Resisting disaster: PDMA, UET sign MoU

University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Peshawar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Provincial Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Settlement Authority (PDMA-PaRRSA) to make a disaster resilient Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). According to a press release, the MoU was formalised at UET by Vice Chancellor Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani and PDMA-PaRRSA K-P Director General Muhammad Tahir Orakzai. The MoU aims at collaboration in academic areas, capacity building, trainings, advocacy events and research initiatives in the field of disaster management. Both parties agreed to utilise technical expertise and world-class equipment at UET to test critical and vulnerable infrastructure of the province for disaster resilience. The two sides further agreed to specifically work for capacity building of the local community and institutions through workshops, trainings and skill development. At the end of the ceremony, a tour of the earthquake engineering centre was given to PDMA officials by Dr Syed M Ali, director of the earthquake engineering centre.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2014.