Pakistan 'nowhere near prepared for another major disaster like one in 2010'

A research study commissioned by a group of UK NGOs identified major shortcomings in Pakistan's disaster risk reduction (DRR) system. "While Pakistan has set up the DRR governance system, it needs greater funding, political support and co-ordination to work more effectively," said the report as per the Guardian. "More durable forms of DRR, such as mitigation and prevention, need more attention," it added.

The reports highlighted the devastation brought to 20 million people's livelihoods by the July 2010 floods, urged that more needs to be done "at the local and community levels." Reviewing the failures of DRR initiatives such as the suspension of the national hazard and vulnerability atlas, the non-existence of risk analysis, the need for enhancement to the country's flood forecasting and warning system, the extensive deforestation, it also pinpointed the diffuse and disconnected nature of the national DRR structure as a major barrier to a stronger national and provincial framework and called for the formation of "one agency with complete oversight over the entire DRR national agenda."