PM calls for enhanced disaster management following Swat tragedy

Shehbaz Sharif directs NDMA to collaborate with provinces to develop a programme preventing future disasters

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to work with provincial disaster management authorities to develop a coordinated programme aimed at preventing incidents like the recent Swat tragedy.

He made these remarks during a visit to the NDMA's National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Islamabad on Tuesday. He also directed the compilation of comprehensive reports on such incidents, noting that around 49 people have lost their lives, with several others injured, across Pakistan.

Commending the state-of-the-art NEOC facility, Sharif assured that the government would provide all necessary assistance to strengthen the institute and enhance its capacity.

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PM Shehbaz revealed that he has tasked Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik with securing grants and investments, rather than loans, through public-private partnerships aimed at building resilient infrastructure in Pakistan.

Addressing water security, he voiced concerns over India’s provocative actions regarding the Indus Water Treaty and announced that the government would construct non-controversial water storage facilities using Pakistan's own resources.

The PM further highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, noting that the country is now increasingly susceptible to cloudbursts, despite contributing little to global greenhouse gas emissions.

He also stressed that the recent devastation caused by sudden glacial melting due to an unprecedented heatwave requires the highest level of preparedness to mitigate future risks.