ISLAMABAD, July 12: The government was on Saturday urged to modify its disaster management policy to ensure that natural calamities in future do not turn into human disasters.

The need was stressed by participants of a one-day consultation on “Disaster Management: Citizens Charter of Demands” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute in collaboration with ActionAid-Pakistan here.

Lt Gen (retd) Farooq Ahmad Khan, Chairman Natural Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was the chief guest on the occasion while executive director of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Dr Abid Q Suleri, Meezan Zehra Khawaja and Shmyla Jawad of SDPI presented key features and findings of institute’s recently conducted research study on this subject.

The participants observed that natural calamities were unavoidable, however, right policies and effective implementation mechanisms may prevent them from becoming human catastrophe.

They stressed that the government should modify its disaster management policy through effective integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) principles, disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and vulnerability, collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, DRR training of concerned government departments and officials, and increase investment in community infrastructure to ensure human security, rights, livelihoods and reduced effects of natural disasters.

Lt Gen (retd) Farooq Ahmad Khan reiterated that the internationally acknowledged successful action of post-October 2005 earthquake was a collective effort by all the stakeholders including the people of Pakistan who volunteered their services and resources. He highlighted the effective response and role of federal government and military to the severe tragedy that struck more than 360 million people in most difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions.

He shared facts and figures of saved lives, injured people treated, medical camps setup and distribution of money as well as other food and non-food items among victims.

He attributed this historic success of rescue operations, rehabilitation and reconstruction to strong political support by the leadership of the country.

While appreciating SDPI study and urging further improvement in the final report, he however differed with some of its facts and figures and generalisation of it on the pretext of its limited coverage and exclusion of some of the relevant stakeholders including his own department.

Meezan Zehra and Shmyla Jawad, in their presentation on SDPI report, highlighted objectives of the study, methodology, a brief history of disasters in Pakistan, the role of National Disaster Management Authority, post-2005 disaster scenario, 5 key priority areas of the Hyogo Protocol 2005, response of Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority, response of community, and gaps and challenges in the policies and overall situation.

The study highlights a strong concern on the inappropriate role of government for delivering on its promises on five priority areas of the Hyogo protocol 2005.

The report acknowledges that the earthquake of 2005 was a turning point when government of Pakistan adopted at least a theoretical holistic approach towards natural disasters especially on federal level.

However, the need for strong and effective implementation mechanisms and adoption of such approach at the provincial and district levels remains a challenge.