The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, is hosting the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) from 21–22 January 2026 at NDMA Headquarters, Islamabad. The two-day event began with a High-Level Working Group Meeting, bringing together ministers and senior officials from ECO Member States, along with representatives of the ECO Secretariat and regional and international partner organizations, to strengthen collective efforts for disaster resilience across the region. Pakistan was elected Chair of the Meeting, reaffirming its commitment to regional cooperation, climate resilience, and the adoption of a shared DRR agenda.
Delegations from Pakistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan discussed enhancing regional coordination, early warning systems, data sharing, and risk-informed planning to address transboundary and climate-induced hazards. Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik highlighted Pakistan’s offer of the National Emergencies Operations Center (NEOC) as a regional hub for coordination, training, simulations, and early warning collaboration. The meeting reviewed progress since the 9th ECO Ministerial Meeting, deliberated on updating the ECO Regional Framework on DRR (2025–2030), and finalized the draft Islamabad Declaration, which will guide regional cooperation, innovation, and inclusive action in disaster risk reduction.