Quetta: ActionAid social development organization has offered its whole hearted help and support to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Disaster Risk Reduction and resilience building.
This offer was made by Mr. Shahjahan Baloch Regional Program Manager of ActionAid while calling on Director General (DG) PDMA Mr. Zahid Saleem, on Wednesday.
Mr. Zahid Mengal Executive Director of AZAT Foundation and Ms. Parveen Naz Regional Program Officer of ActionAid were also part of the meeting.
ActionAid is international Non-Governmental organization (INGO) which has been working in Balochistan on different thematic areas since 2003 through civil society partnerships. Climate resilient sustainable agriculture and Disaster Risk Reduction through Resilience Building are main themes of ActionAid.
Mr. ShahJahan Baloch explained in the meeting that how can civil society support PDMA in reducing the impacts of disasters. He also explained that which type of policy demand can ensure the disaster risk reduction at all levels in Balochistan.
Mr. Zahid Mengal, Executive Director of AZAT Foundation said that the drought situation of 4 to 5 districts of Balochistan including Nushki, Kharan, Washuk, Chagai and other districts has badly affected the livestock which is main source of the livelihood for people in those districts.
He appreciated DG PDMA for taking initiative and conducting the survey in Nushki with the support of AZAT and shared the drought situation with other departments therefore now livestock department has started the campaign in Nushki.
He offered full help to PDMA on behalf of Azat foundation to jointly work on the issue of Drought.
Mr. Zahid Saleem, DG of PDMA thanked the delegation members for calling on him on the important issue of drought and disaster risk reduction.
He said that Pakistan is third most disaster prone country in the world and within Pakistan Balochistan is highest disaster prone province. He further said that it is most important that people should be aware about the disaster situation before they face it, therefore we need a strong planning at overall Balochistan level.
He further explained that PDMA took the initiative to start survey from Nushki and he visited the areas himself. Now, PDMA has setup a drought cell and completed the drought contingency plan after taking on board all departments and conducting meeting with them. PDMA has also suggested all concerned departments to form their contingency plans.
DG PDMA further said that Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) have an important role because they can easily access every part of the province and can convey the message of alarming situation of disaster easily. INGO’s have technical expertise which can give PDMA support for the capacity building of its staff.
Mr. Zahid Saleem suggested that District Hazard Profile of each district should be developed with the mitigation measurements of 8 – 10 years. District Disaster Management Authorities should be re-structured because they have trained technical staff.
Meeting concluded on the note that PDMA along with CSOs including ActionAid and Azat foundation would jointly make efforts to mitigate the disaster damage risk in Balochistan.
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