Tsunami Early Warning System (TEWS) will be strengthened by upgrading phase-I of its basic component seismological network of Pakistan Met Department (PMD) with a total cost of Rs 193 million aimed at avoiding any calamity at the coastal areas of the country.
Director General Met Office Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman said this on Saturday while talking to APP regarding up-gradation of seismological network of PMD (phase-I), a basic component of Tsunami Early Warning System.
Responding to a question regarding Tsunami events, which occurred at the coastal area of Pakistan the DG said, "Tsunami is a very rare event and this tragedy occurred in 1945 at the coastal area of Pasni of Balochistan with earthquake measuring 8.3 at the Richter scale with typhoon having about 40 feet waves height resulting in death toll of 4000 people of the coastal areas. This tragedy also affected hundreds of thousands of people, who were made homeless due to Tsunami event."
Tsunami tragedy of last year, which affected millions of people having death toll of hundreds of thousands of people in various countries, created awareness among South Asian countries and forced them to establish or upgrade Tsunami Early Warning System for monitoring such calamity in the Indian Ocean.
When asked amount such system in other countries, Dr Qamar said: "Only Global Tsunami Centre is functioning having Pacific Region back up centre in Japan."
Giving background of the up-gradation project of seismological system, he said that Prime Minister Aziz constituted a committee, headed by the Federal Minister for Science & Technology having representation from all the concerned departments to develop Tsunami Early Warning System in the country.
Keeping in view the havoc of Tsunami tragedy last year, the committee decided up-gradation and strengthening of seismological network phase-I after having a number of lengthy deliberations and meetings in this regard, the DG said.
A number of relevant departments, including National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Geological Survey of Pakistan, Hydrographic Unit of Pakistan Navy and Emergency Relief Cell of the Cabinet Division are co-operating as partner agencies with Pakistan Met Department, which is a leading agency for the execution of this project, he said.
The Federal government has already allocated Rs 40,200 million in the current financial year for the Up-gradation of seismological network first phase-I, which is a basic component of the TEWS.
Pakistan Met Department developed the seismological monitoring system as a basic and first component of Early Warninq System, which is now being strengthened and upgraded aimed at establishing a very credible Tsunami Early Warning System having international standards and dependable data system, the DG told APP.
He said: "Up-gradation of our present seismological network operating in the country will be made by installing 15 state-of-the-art broad-band seismic centres in the country.
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