ISLAMABAD: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday visited the National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) established at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Headquarters.
UN Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan’s efforts towards strengthening disaster preparedness, early warning and resilience, particularly in the face of increasing climate-related risks and recurring natural hazards. He also admired the proactive disaster management approach of Pakistan and stressed the replication of this template in disaster-prone regions of the world.
The UN Secretary-General was accompanied by Rosemary A DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, along with senior UN officials. During the visit, the UN delegation was given a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan’s evolving disaster management architecture, with particular focus on the country’s transition from reactive disaster response towards a proactive, technology-driven and pre-emptive disaster risk management system.
Chairman NDMA, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, briefed the UN Secretary-General on the strategic role of NEOC as the central hub for disaster monitoring, Disaster Early Warnings (DEWs), preparedness and coordinated emergency response.
The UN Secretary-General was also briefed that, as part of this strategic initiative, NDMA has established the Next Generation Technology (NGT) project to automate the development of precise Disaster Early Warnings (DEWs) through the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced data systems.
The initiative aims to strengthen Pakistan’s indigenous technological capabilities, enhance disaster forecasting and improve preparedness against emerging risks, including water scarcity, food insecurity, glacier retreat and other climate-related challenges.
Together, NEOC, NGT and GRH form an integrated disaster management architecture, combining advanced technology, early warning, international cooperation and knowledge exchange to strengthen coordinated regional and global action for disaster risk reduction, preparedness and resilience.
Pakistan has offered its technological excellence, including NEOC, NGT and GRH, to the UN for shared utilisation, along with a free exchange of expertise.
NDMA team demonstrated “National and Global Disaster Lens 2026-27”, an advanced disaster risk intelligence and visualization capability designed to provide an integrated view of evolving hazards, vulnerabilities and disaster risks. The demonstration highlighted how technology, data and analytical capabilities are being integrated at NEOC to enhance situational awareness, strengthen risk-informed decision-making and support timely and anticipatory action at national and international levels.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and the United Nations to further strengthen cooperation in disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, early warning, anticipatory action, humanitarian coordination and emergency preparedness and response.
Both sides emphasised the importance of innovation, technology and international partnerships in advancing a more resilient and disaster-prepared future.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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