.JPG)
At the end of the session, two things are very clear to me; One, Pakistan really needs National District Management infrastructure down to district level. Two, parliamentarians (at least those who were present (including Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah) are not interested to adopt it in the province as it idea was conceived when Gen Pervez Musharaf in chair.
Fact is that Pakistan is vulnerable to disaster risks from a range of hazards from avalanches to floods to human induced hazards and internal displacements of communities due to multiple factors. The loss of life and property and the challenges that were faced in the aftermath of October 2005 earthquake affecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the NWFP province loudly displayed the need for establishing appropriate policy and institutional arrangements to reduce losses from disasters in future and as a result National Disaster Management Ordinance, 2006 was promulgated.
The Ordinance has been established under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister as the highest policy making body in the field of disaster management. As an executive arm of the NDMC, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been made operational to coordinate and monitor implementation of National Policies and Strategies on disaster management.
The new system envisages a devolved and de-centralized mechanism for disaster management. Accordingly, Provincial Disaster Management Commissions and Authorities have been established while similar arrangements have been made in AJK and Northern Areas. The District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) have been notified across the country. The DDMAs are going to be the linchpin of the whole system and would play the role of the first line of defense in the event of a disaster.
The National Disaster risk Management Framework has been formulated to guide the work of entire system in the area of disaster risk management. It has been developed through wide consultation with stakeholders from local, provincial and national levels. The Framework identifies National Strategies and Policies for disaster management. Nine priority areas have been identified within this framework to establish and strengthen policies, institutions and capacities over the next five years: These include:-
- Institutional and legal arrangements for DRM
- Hazard and vulnerability assessment.
- Training, education and awareness.
- Disaster risk management planning.
- Community and local level programming.
- Multi-hazard early warning system.
- Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development.
- Emergency response system, and
- Capacity development for post disaster recovery.
The NDMA has already embarked upon a five year development program to implement the above nine priority areas. For the purpose, the NDMA in collaboration with international donor agencies, has already secured commitments for the provision of 58 million dollars.
Notwithstanding who initially promoulgated the ordinance and in whos period the Authority was set up, I wish and suggest that Punjab takes a step forward and adapt the suggested administrative infrastructure. This will greatly help the people, if helping people is any priority here.