UoP arranges study tour on post-disaster recovery

The Centre for Disaster Preparedness and Management (CDPM), University of Peshawar arranged a study tour for the students of MSc Final Disaster Management to State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)-AJK and Balakot Town. The basic aim of the study tour was to orient the students on post disaster recovery in Balakot and activities of SDMA regarding disaster risk reduction at the state level.
During the first day of field visit the students were sent to Murree to study the land stabilization techniques (ieengineering control measure, soil bio-engineering measure and biological methods) in landslide prone areas especially along Murree expressway. Students also conducted their field activities on construction in unstable slopes and assessed the vulnerabilities of high rise buildings in Murree.
On the second day an orientation session was held at the State Disaster Management Authority office. Saeedur Rehman Qureshi, Director Operations SDMA briefed the students about the potential threats of natural and anthropogenic disasters in Kashmir. He said that due to hilly terrain and rugged mountainous geography the area is vulnerable to a variety of natural hazards which includes earthquake, landsliding, riverine floods, flash floods, heavy snowfall and soil erosion. Firing along the border with India was considered a major problem for the local inhabitants along line of control.
The Director Operations further discussed that SDMA has initiated activities on construction of community bunker to protect the lives of the people living on the borderline. He was of the view that the 2005 earthquake was an eye opener for the Government of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in term of disaster risk reduction. It was discussed that SDMA has prepared Disaster Management Plans for all districts of AJK and Rescue 1122 service has been setup in seven districts. The students appreciated the establishment of Rescue 1122 under the SDMA, as it can be considered as a response unit of the SDMA which reduces the issues of conflict of interests between organizations.
Later, the students were taken to study the role of avalanche shelter in land stabilization on District Hattian Bala road. The students were also oriented about the earthquake resilient infrastructure in Muzaffarabad city and surrounding areas. On the last day the students and faculty members of the CDPM visited Balakot town.