Pakistan: NDMA holds post flood national review conference – 2015 Contingency planning for monsoon 2016 initiated
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) conducted a day-long National Review Conference 2015 to analyze the Flood Management and Response efforts22.1.15 undertaken during Floods Season of Year 2015 by all stakeholders. The Conference was presided by Major General Asghar Nawaz, Chairman NDMA.
While welcoming the participants, Chairman NDMA appreciated the collaborative role of various departments that resulted in satisfactory management of 2015 Floods. He emphasized the need to further strengthen integrated disaster management system and coordination mechanism amongst all relevant stakeholders in order to ensure better preparedness. Chairman NDMA also reiterated that the aim of such conferences is to identify the gaps, record the lessons learnt / best practices and to devise strategy for future.
Structured presentations were given by Pakistan Meteorological Department, all Provincial Irrigation Departments, all Provincial Disaster Management Authorities, Army Representative, National Highway Authority (NHA) and Representatives of Mangla and Tarbela Dam.
Some tangible input was received for action by Federal and Provincial Government Departments. Flood mitigation projects / rehabilitation works by Irrigation Departments viz-a-viz availability of funding, timely completion of flood mitigation works before onset of next monsoon season, encroachments in river plains and huge annual expenditures on relief to population of said encroachments, ageing of rescue equipment held by Army viz-a-viz replacement cost to be borne by respective Provincial Governments, poor stocking level of relief goods at Districts and below, weak response mechanism at District level and equipment inadequacy of Pakistan Meteorological Department were identified as major challenges.
Chairman NDMA while thanking all participants said that notwithstanding rescue constraints and challenges thereof, a concerted as well as coordinated proactive response is much warranted to thwart the effects of flood disasters.