KARACHI: Need for disaster control ministry stressed
KARACHI, Oct 13: Experts at a seminar on Need For Disaster Management, held here on Thursday under the auspices of the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), called for the establishment of an independent disaster control ministry capable of running command and control operations in the event of any natural calamity.
Speaking at the seminar, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), Karachi, Kazim Ali, said that while pre-disaster preparedness was imperatively important at individual, community and national level, the need for an administrative agency comprising technical experts to chalk out and implement a comprehensive strategy was equally important.
“The proposed ministry, having departments at provincial, district and town level, will be able to run search and rescue operations in a much organized manner,” he told participants.
He said the way the nation had come together following the October 8 earthquake was remarkable but a centralized authority would help in mobilizing people and resources in an even better way.
The apartments being built in Karachi on a large-scale have no safety measures as required under the Building Regulation Law-2002, he said, emphasizing the need for having a political platform (ministry) for implementing such laws in letter and spirit.
He said the Disaster Control Plan-2005 prepared by mutual consent of 22 agencies could also be made effective through the ministry. The move could help revive the scout culture and re-establish civil defence organizations, he added.
He warned that the 15 million population of Karachi was faced with multiple hazardous factors with limited resource and in this backdrop it was necessary to train individuals on how to react in such a crisis situation.
Commandant, Federal Civil Defence Training Institute, Sarfaraz Hussain Jaffery said awareness was a key to preparing for any national-level crisis. He suggested introduction of special books, containing precautionary measures, for schoolchildren.
He said that while hi-tech equipment were important for search and rescue operations, a simple home-kit containing 22 necessary tools, like hammer, torch, whistle, rope, etc., in every home could greatly contribute to human survival.
He stressed the need for conducting regular exercises to train people in tackling a situation arising out of earthquake or other such disasters.
“The more you sweat during peace time, the less you bleed in war time,” was the sentence Akhtar Quddus, CEO of a private firm dealing in disaster management, uttered while deliberating upon the significance of proactive planning.
He said planning required study of various disasters and their impact on human life and property, which also helped ascertain risk assessment factor, an important component of disaster control planning.
He said available resources should be identified much before the occurrence of any natural tragedy. Technology might be important, but trained manpower could help in saving many lives, especially in a congested city like Karachi.
Mr Quddus further said that special budgetary allocations were needed to strengthen the role and performance of command and control structure to deal with any untoward situation.—PPI
