PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority has begun the development of a disaster risk reduction policy for the province with the support of the German development agency GIZ.

A meeting on the policy was held at the PDMA headquarters here with PDMA director general Mohammad Qaisar Khan in the chair.

The participants included ASP GIZ head Johanna Knoess and senior policy adviser Frank Schnider along with representatives of the PDMA and humanitarian sector and other stakeholders.

They agreed that the policy would be comprehensive, covering a wide range of challenges and vulnerabilities faced by the province, according to an official statement issued here on Friday.

PDMA working on it with German support

Scheduled to be drafted within the next six months, the policy reflects the unwavering commitment of the authorities towards safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of the populace, according to the PDMA director general.

He appreciated the support for the management of disasters, including natural, man-made and climate-related events.

Mr Khan emphasised the global responsibility in tackling climate change and praised the Gender and Child Cell for taking the lead in the formulation of the DRR policy for providing comprehensive guidance on disaster management.

“This policy not only focuses on disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response, but also emphasises the inclusion of all societal segments, especially women, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups,” he said.

The PDMA chief thanked GIZ for contributions and expressed hope for continued collaboration with the same enthusiasm in the future.

Ms Knoess of the GIZ emphasised the importance of integrating expert knowledge of disaster risk management with social protection lenses to bring the policy into action.

Knoess highlighted the role of the programme, supported by the German development corporation BMZ and the European Commission, in preparing individuals for climate calamities through improved education, nutrition, and health protection.

She stressed the need for disaster risk agencies to use data for proactive measures and build long-term resilience in vulnerable populations.

Officials said the objectives of the disaster risk reduction policy were to outline a comprehensive and integrated approach to disaster risk reduction and management efforts.

They said that the policy aimed to identify and assess potential risks while outlining strategies and measures to mitigate the impacts of disasters.

The officials said the DDR policy ensured that emergency response plans are in place and that critical infrastructure and services remain resilient to the effects of disasters.

Additionally, the policy establishes management frameworks to define roles for PDMA, communities, and stakeholders in disaster management, recovery, rehabilitation, and preparedness, according to them.

The officials said that the policy also focused on strengthening coordination and communication between various departments and agencies involved in disaster management.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2024