ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) was formally launched in the capital city on Monday to serve as a centre of excellence for training and research.

The institute has been established by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to build the capacity to respond and prepare for disasters across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, NDMA Chairman Lt-Gen (retired) Farooq Ahmad Khan said the institute had the huge responsibility of instilling disaster risk management ideas in the minds of the youth, government officers and civil society organisations.

He expressed the determination to make the NIDM a hub of knowledge and information on disaster risk management.

UNDP Deputy Country Director Mikiko Tanaka said “When disasters strike, the impact of our work, so often measured in gradual increments over time, is by necessity, instant and pivotal. At moments like this, we are reminded again of the imperative to work on disaster risk reduction and response in times of both stability and turmoil.

“I am confident that the NIDM under NDMA leadership will play a crucial role for imparting appropriate training to disaster managers at various levels to ensure coordinated and quick response during emergencies.”

The NDMA was established in 2007 with an aim to be at the forefront of disaster management in the country. It was mandated to focus on putting in place systems which reduce the potential devastation from a disaster and ensures that if they do occur there are mechanisms to respond to them effectively.