KARACHI, March 23: About 90 per cent of natural hazards are related to weather, climate and water, said S A A Kazmi, the Director-General of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, while inaugurating an exhibition with reference to the World Meteorological Day at the Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics, Met Complex, on Thursday.

The theme for this year’s World Meteorological Day was “Prevention and Mitigating Natural Disasters”.

Mr Kazmi highlighted the vital role played by the World Meteorological Organization and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services regarding prevention, preparedness and mitigation of natural disasters.

He said the economic impact of natural disasters had shown a marked upward trend over the last several decades. Additionally, developing countries, especially the least developed countries were more affected by the natural hazards.

He said that four phases were recommended by the WMO regarding prevention and mitigation of natural disasters: the preparedness phase, dealing with awareness about natural hazards; mitigation phase, dealing with long-term planning for the community; response phase, about how the community “weathered” the weather hazard; and recovery phase, regarding cleaning up, rebuilding and getting ready for the next one.

The exhibition will remain open on March 24 and 25 for students and citizens.—PPI