PESHAWAR: Disaster management is the best example of “Khudai Khidmatgari” or service to humanity as only with such zeal and help of technology one can reduce losses during disaster to about 70 per cent, says Dr Noor Jehan, the first woman exploration geologist of South Asia and director of Centre of Disaster Preparedness and Management at University of Peshawar.

“When you have the enthusiasm like a true Khudai Khidmatgar, then you work day and night to stay prepared for disaster and develop technology and policies to manage it,” she said while referring to her work and self as follower of Bacha Khan, the founder of Khudai Khidmatgar Movement.

She was addressing a gathering in Puta Hall, University of Peshawar on Monday. The CDPM in collaboration with National Humanitarian Network, Hujra Organisation, Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Fata Disaster Management Authority commemorated the National Disaster Awareness Day and International Disaster Risk Reduction Day by bringing together all the government and non-governmental organisations to discuss problems and state of preparedness for management of natural and man-made disasters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

UoP Vice-chancellor Dr Asif Khan also remembered Dr Hameedullah, a professor of geology department who died in a helicopter crash when he was involved in relief work soon after Oct 8, 2005 earthquake.

Speakers for enforcement of building code, conducting geological surveys to identify vulnerable locations

He said that 2005 earthquake was an eye opener for the government. “Now there is comprehensive legal and administrative network for disaster risk management across the country,” he added.

M Riaz Khan, the director administration of FDMA, said that owing to lack of institutions like Rescue1122 and civil defence, quick response to disasters was a problem in tribal areas.

“Federal government has allocated Rs80 billion for long term settlement of tribal people but FDMA is slowly building capacity to provide services to the victims of disasters. FDMA has so far distributed Rs8 billion among displaced tribal people,” he said.

Abdul Basit, the director relief of PDMA, stressed the need for enforcement of building codes policy, conducting geological surveys to identify vulnerable locations and multi hazard vulnerability assessment across the province.

He said that paucity of funds hampered preparedness and mitigation activities for various disasters. He called upon academia to develop linkages with government departments and conduct indigenous researches on the issues to come up with solutions and plans.

Niamatullah Khan, the provincial head of UNWFP, Azmat Khan, the provincial chairperson of NHN, and Khurshid Ahmad, a representative of NHN, also addressed the gathering.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2017