ISLAMABAD, Sep 30 (DNA): A delegation of national coordinators and senior representatives from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states visited the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquarters here on Wednesday to examine Pakistan’s disaster management capabilities and explore stronger regional cooperation in early warning, emergency response and disaster risk reduction.
The delegation, comprising representatives from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, visited the NEOC in connection with the first meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators (CNC) being held under Pakistan’s chairmanship.
The NDMA team briefed the visiting representatives on the NEOC’s operational capabilities and Pakistan’s shift towards proactive disaster management, highlighting the use of advanced digital technologies and data-driven systems for hazard monitoring, risk assessment, early warning and informed decision-making.
Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik briefed the delegation on the authority’s initiatives to strengthen Pakistan’s disaster response architecture and contribute to regional and global disaster risk reduction efforts.
The delegation was also apprised of NDMA’s recent achievements, technological advancements and plans to deploy next-generation technologies to strengthen disaster early warning systems, improve coordinated response mechanisms and ensure the timely dissemination of authentic and actionable information to the public.
The briefing highlighted NDMA’s coordination with national leadership, its guidance framework for provincial and local governments, and institutional linkages with international disaster management authorities, regional organisations, academia, humanitarian agencies and other partners.
The visiting representatives were given an overview of Disaster Early Warning systems and mechanisms for localised dissemination of warnings, as well as measures to enhance preparedness and response to climate-related hazards and other complex disasters.
Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik emphasised the need to deepen cooperation among SCO member states in disaster risk reduction, early warning, knowledge exchange, capacity building and coordinated emergency response.
He proposed regionalising proactive disaster management through standard disaster risk reduction frameworks and expanding cooperation among SCO countries to address the shared security challenges posed by climate change and regional vulnerabilities.
The delegation appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to modernise its disaster management architecture and enhance the operational capabilities of the NEOC, while the visit provided an opportunity to explore greater exchange of expertise in disaster preparedness, early warning, emergency response and resilience building.
