NDMA organized a seminar on the occasion of National Resilience Day on October 9, 2023 at NUST University, Islamabad. The seminar was aimed at highlighting the challenges and opportunities for national preparedness, disaster risk reduction and resilience building in Pakistan.
In welcome remarks, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik highlighted the National Vision for Proactive Management for Disaster Management in Pakistan and stated that the Disaster Management System in Pakistan is currently undergoing a transformation, shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach. He briefed about the establishment of a modern National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) at NDMA inaugurated by Prime Minister of Pakistan on 5th October 2023. He underlined the capabilities of NEOC enabled by multiple satellite feeds, softwares, Artificial intelligence tools to generate National Common Operating Picture (NCOP) which would strengthen digital risk assessment, early warning systems and preparedness strategies for Pakistan.
The seminar was divided into two sessions titled “Archived Reflections – Pak Exposures to Disasters” and “Anticipatory Actions, Global Expectations, Proactive Approach” respectively. The first session focused on the lessons learned from the past disasters and the best practices adopted by Pakistan in disaster management. The second session discussed the future trends and scenarios of disasters and the need for anticipatory actions and proactive approach to reduce disaster risks.
The chief guest of the first session was Former Air Chief Marshal Sohail Amman, NI(M), who appreciated the efforts of NDMA and its partners in enhancing the resilience of the nation in face of disasters. He also stressed the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction into development planning and policies. The guest of honour of the first session was Former Chairman NDMA Lt Gen (Retd) Nadeem Ahmed, who shared his experiences and insights from leading the relief and recovery operations after the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods.
The chief guest of the second session was Mr Muhammad Sami Saeed, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, who lauded the role of NDMA in coordinating and facilitating the disaster management activities in the country. He also emphasized the need for investing in disaster risk reduction and resilience building as a key component of sustainable development. The guest of honour of the second session was Lt Gen (Retd) Omer Mahmood Hayat, Ex-Chairman NDMA, who highlighted the achievements and challenges of NDMA in implementing Disaster Risk Reduction interventions in the country.
The seminar’s panelists included Mr. Masood Ur Rehman, Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, AJ&K, Dr. Naseer Ahmed , Secretary Emergencies Services Punjab, Mr. Bilal Anwar, CEO, NDRMF and heads of international humanitarian organisations, government departments, disaster management, IT experts and academia. The participants appreciated the initiative of NDMA to organise such a seminar and expressed their commitment to work together for a safer and disaster resilient Pakistan.