ISLAMABAD: Experts at a conference on Friday stressed the need for developing regional cooperation in managing natural disasters.

The Sixth ‘Regional Technical Group Meeting’ on Disaster Management – Confidence Building Measures of Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process was held at the conclusion of the conference.

In his presentation, Iranian Director of Asia and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management said: “We have tons of information data which can be used in an effective manner when the time comes.

“There is a need for skills, policies, processes, structures, training, etc., so that uncustomised information could reach out to the people at risk.”

Mr Mohaghegh said that transforming information from collection of data and inputs into actionable knowledge could actually leave an impact on other disaster management efforts.

He said Asia-Pacific Disaster Report which was published after every two years had already identified a number of key important steps like understanding risks and having data and information policies and generating actionable information.

“We need more and more information and regional cooperation with regards to trans-boundary disasters and hazards which require more collaboration among countries and nations of the world,” said the expert.

In his address Lt-Gen Omar Mahmood Hayat, chairman National Disaster Management Authority, said that relations between the countries and regional politics should not stand in the way of cooperation for disaster management was purely a humanitarian effort ‘therefore politics cannot come into play at such forums’, he added.

He lauded the contribution of all participating countries and organisations in the conference and said that such efforts would help enhance regional co-operation among the member states.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the participating countries including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey.

It was decided that participating countries, together with supporting countries and organisations should expedite and further strengthen efforts and practical actions for implementation of the roadmap for disaster management.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2018