May 28, 2007	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1428

RAWALPINDI, May 27: A national plan for the establishment of a “Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Response System” consisting of nine essential components has been devised to deal with major disasters generally experienced in Pakistan, it was official learnt.

The national plan devised by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) will serve as a country-based early warning and response system which is needed not only for the protection of citizens and national assets but also provides building blocks of the global early warning system.

The recommendation addresses the need for a national plan based on a survey of capabilities, a warning dissemination strategy, community-based approaches, and public education and exercises.

The recommendation highlights gaps and opportunities that deserve immediate concerted action, including tropical cyclones, floods, tsunamis and drought for the optimal protection of the lives, property and national assets of the country.

The government is expected to seek funds for the National Plan for Establishment of Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Response System from the donors’ consortium formed on the initiative of former US President Bill Clinton.

The national plan includes: establishment of Tsunami Early Warning System; establishment of Earthquake Prediction Study Centre; Tide Gauge Network for monitoring of sea level variations along Pakistan coast; upgradation of Warning Capabilities of National Meteorological Service in Pakistan; establishment of Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre Flood Forecasting Centre for NWFP; Drought Monitoring and Warning System; establishment of Specialised Control Centre at National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); and setting up of Federal Urban Search and Rescue Teams.

All components will be linked with the focal point at National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) administered by the Cabinet Division through a reliable communication system. NDMA would establish direct communication links to reach the stakeholders. NDMA will have a round the clock operational fully automated control room for collecting information of emergencies of all sorts in the country.

While devising the plan, PMD pointed out that there were various national and provincial institutions working independently to address issues related to different disasters. However, the country lacks an effective unified multi-hazard disaster warning system to help reduce loss of life and livelihoods resulting from natural hazards.

Like other South Asian countries, Pakistan continues to suffer from a plethora of natural hazards that threaten to affect the lives and livelihood of its citizens — natural disasters include floods, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones and drought.

These hazards pose serious threat to the economic and social development of the country.

The human impact of natural disasters in Pakistan can be judged by the fact that 6,037 people were killed and 8,989,631 affected in the period between 1993-2002, while more than 85,000 people were killed and more than four million people were affected due to the recent major earthquake that occurred on October 8, 2005 in the north of Pakistan.

Pakistan also has a history of tsunami, due to a great earthquake of magnitude 8.3 which occurred offshore Makran Coast south of Pasni during the early hours on November 28, 1945 producing 1,215 metre high sea waves that killed at least 4,000 people in Pasni and adjoining areas. The tsunami hit as far as Mumbai. Karachi, about 450 kms from the epicentre, experienced six feet high sea waves which affected the harbour facilities.

Fortunately, the time at which the sea wave occurred was different from the time of high tide at Karachi on that day. Accordingly, the occurrence of a future tsunami event from this source region cannot be ruled out.

It was, therefore, deemed necessary for Pakistan to develop a Tsunami Early Warning System. Consequently, the Ministry of Science and Technology prepared a detailed feasibility report, based on which the government entrusted Pakistan Meteorological Department to act as a focal point to set up such a system.

The Planning Commission has approved the first phase of upgradation of Seismic Network of Pakistan of the Tsunami Early Warning System which was in progress; Tsunami Early Warning Centre would be established in Karachi in the second phase.

The objective of Tide Gauge Network for Monitoring of Sea Level Variation along Pakistan Coast project is to set up a sea level monitoring system. At least six tide gauge stations may be established along the Pakistan coast. The extend of vulnerability of the area as well as representation of both Sindh and Balochistan coast lines are the main consideration for selection of the tidal observatories sites.

The purpose of the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre at Peshawar is to provide as much advance notice as possible of an impending flood especially in the NWFP.