CHITRAL, Oct 30: There is a need for implementation of disaster mitigation strategies in quake-prone zones, such as the Hindu Kush range, before carrying out any kind of development work.

Addressing a seminar on earthquake safety here on Tuesday, organised by the Focus Humanitarian Assistance and Aga Khan Planning and Building Services, speakers said that hazard planning and disaster mitigation principles were being ignored in public and private sectors.

They called for a strategy to reduce the risk to population from quakes.

“The Hindu Kush range has been the epicentre of a number of tremors in the region. There is a need for risk management in the area to tackle the aftermaths of any seismic disaster,” they said.

Papers on hazard management strategies, prevention and mitigation methodologies, and preparedness and relief were presented in the seminar.

The speakers called for implementation of building codes and quality-control checks.

National Disaster Manage-ment Authority chairman General Mohammad Farooq chaired the seminar. Papers were presented by district nazim Chitral Maghfirat Shah, Nadeem Haider (UNDP), Shaukat Qadir (Nespak), Miraj Khan (AKRSP), Amir Mohammad (FHA), Adnan Alam (GSP) and Dr Ishaque Mohmand.