KARACHI, Jan 6: Speakers representing the Pakistan Navy, Meteorological Department, Civil Defence and other institutions at a seminar on Thursday stressed on preparing a comprehensive disaster-management plan and highlighted the importance of installing sophisticated early-warning systems vis-à-vis a disaster like tsunami.

They also called for the setting up of a national rescue/emergency centre in the country which should holding regular drills as part of a disaster-management plan. They said there should be a national committee for initiating coordinated efforts in the wake of any emergency or natural disaster.

The seminar on Being Prepared for Tsunamis and Similar Disasters, No Matter How Remote the Chances was organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) at its Vicky Zeitlin Media Library.

The experts were of the view that quake and tsunamis of the intensity experienced by Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and many other countries would have caused colossal losses had they hit Pakistan's coastal areas because the country's most populated and developed city, Karachi, is located almost at sea level.

Captain Mohammad Amjad, Commanding Officer of the navy ship PNS Tariq, which participated in the relief operation in Maldives, said that the navy personnel had learnt a lot during the operation.

"On our return after undertaking relief operation in the Indian Ocean, we submitted our report to the navy authorities, and also general public through media" he said, adding that early warning of such disasters could help a lot in preventing loss of human lives and properties.

He said the concerned agencies and departments should start manoeuvres for a comprehensive disaster-management plan, besides setting up national rescue/emergency cell and imparting training to people to face any possible natural calamity.

Captain Amjad further stressed on educating and creating awareness in masses, as well as keeping a good stock of food, clothes, medicines and medical equipment for use in the face of any such emergencies in the country.

Giving details of the Maldives operation, he said that the Pakistan Navy personnel helped the local authorities in evacuating stranded people, providing relief goods to the victims in far-flung islands and identifying worst hit areas by launching aerial survey missions.

Chief Meteorologist at Karachi Arif Mahmood argued that although Pakistan possessed sophisticated earthquake measuring equipment which could register a quake of any intensity anywhere in the world, it could not forecast earthquakes and tsunamis.

He told the seminar that the Met Department was evolving an early-warning system in collaboration with Iran, India, Sri Lanka and other regional countries to exchange advance information about tropical cyclones and in the event of a tsunami in the Indian Ocean, it would also take steps towards that direction.

Khalid Khatri of the Civil Defence Department, city government, regretted that most people living in Karachi and adjoining areas were unaware of the precautionary measures that had to be taken in the event of any emergency or natural calamity.

"Preparation for such an emergency is most important and for the purpose creating awareness in masses is essential. Majority of our people don't know what to do in case of any emergency," he said, adding that people should be given basic and specialized training to help themselves and others if faced with a disaster like tsunami.

He said although a disaster-management plan was prepared by the CDGK, it was yet to be accorded approval. He called for holding exercises and training of masses to face any such challenge.

Captain (r) Ashfaq Agha, CEO of Pakistan Aquatic Life Savings (PALS) in his presentation on the role of NGOs in disaster-management, said that NGOs could play an important role in keeping communities prepared for disaster- management by providing them education and educating them on precautionary measures.

He suggested that people from all walks of life, including political leaders, elected representatives, traders, teachers and students, should be kept ready to participate in coordinated relief efforts in case of any natural calamity or disaster.

Capt Agha said that no one could escape a disaster if it hit his area and in order to prevent any or major loss of life and property, one should have proper awareness and training on how to act and what to do in such a situation.

Raza Samad, President of PALS, in his presentation said that the United States, Japan and some other developed countries had developed early-warning systems for looming tsunamis. He said Pakistan should also have such a system.

"Awareness is key to prevention of such disasters; we should educate people living close to the coastline as they suffer the most in tsunami-like calamities,'' he said, adding that fishermen localities were most vulnerable to such a threat.

He said that if an earthquake hitting the coastal areas continued to be felt for more than 20 seconds, people should leave the beach area try to keep a distance of at least two-three kilometres from the sea. They should also try to take refuge atop a place of a reasonable height.

The seminar was followed by a question-answer session during which the experts briefed the participants about the precautionary measures in the face of an emergency. -PPI