President calls for disaster preparedness

President Asif Ali Zardari has called for regional cooperation and global initiatives to strengthen disaster risk reduction, stressing the need to shift from disaster response to preparedness.

In his message on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed on October 13, the president said Pakistan had experienced floods, earthquakes, heatwaves and droughts, underscoring the heavy human and economic costs of disasters.

He said the country had learned that preparedness is essential and that the traditional approach of responding after a disaster strikes is no longer sufficient.

The president said Pakistan was transforming its disaster management system by using artificial intelligence, satellite technology and real-time data to identify emerging threats, issue early warnings and help communities move to safety before disasters struck.

Emphasising the role of local governments and communities, he said local administrations and community volunteers were often the first to respond during emergencies because of their familiarity with local terrain and populations.

He called upon national and international organisations to make disaster preparedness a core component of their work, adding that Pakistan's experience could offer valuable lessons to the international community.