Devastating quake of 2005 gave birth to NDMA: Lieutenant General Hayat

Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant General Omar Mahmood Hayat has said that Pakistan appreciates goodwill gestures of assistance extended by global community as well as friendly and neighbouring countries during past disasters.
He expressed these views here at a launching ceremony on 'Host Nation Support Guideline for Foreign Assistance to Pakistan during Disaster' on Thursday. He said that devastating earthquake of 2005 enabled Pakistan to develop NDMA like institutions, adding that nowadays the government of Pakistan has not only created disaster management authority at federal level but the same authorities are working at provincial and district levels as well.
He further said that foreign assistance is of immense value and it increases the level of coordination. The NDMA chairman said that main purpose of all state institutions is to serve its citizens, adding that disaster management is aimed at ensuring protection of life and properties during times of stress and disaster. "This is how we can serve the humanity and establish our credibility as a state institution," he added.
He said that during any natural calamity federal departments and ministries like, communications, water resources, railways, armed forces, SUPARCO, NESPAK as well as provincial irrigation departments, provincial/regional disaster management authorities (PDMAs), Pakistan Red Crescent (PRC), Pakistan Boys Scouts Association, and Pakistan Girls Guide Association all play their due role in dealing with the situations.
Disasters ensure a clear understanding of rules, responsibilities and processes for all stakeholders, both national and international. "Ensuring a common operating picture is vital to avoid delays and wasteful duplication of effort," he added. The NDMA chairman reiterated that the authority will continue to work with all stakeholders to further build the capacities necessary for best utilization of relief assistance provided by foreign countries.
Experiences of two of largest disasters in recent past, the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 super floods, in addition to multitude of smaller scale disasters highlighted the need for understanding the complexities of large scale logistics, planning and coordination efforts required for managing foreign assistance in disaster situations. To bridge this gap, the NDMA with the support of the Australian High Commission in Islamabad, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, and a team of locally-based consultants developed the Host Nation Support Guidelines for Pakistan.
While underlining the importance of understanding disaster management in global climate change perspective, he said that conventional disaster management practices are necessary but real challenge lies in the social adaptation according to shifting weather patterns and coping with its impacts.
Member (operations) NDMA Brigadier Mukhtar Ahmed highlighted the need for such national level guidelines for effective coordination and efficient distribution of resources among the disaster victims. He also dilated upon the complex and complicated processes involved in the development of this document. He informed that input from all relevant stakeholders, government departments and development partners was duly sought and incorporated into this document.