1. SUBMITTED TO
MAJ DR NAEEM
(MCE-NUST)
HOME ASSIGNMENT
INGOs WORKING ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISSTANCE
IN PAKISTAN
SUBMITTED BY
PA-38497
MAJOR ABDUS SAMI
(MS-DM MCE)

2. PRELUDE
Disasters have an enormous and significant negative impact on development of key sectors of
economy like agriculture, infrastructure, housing, health, and education and above all the
environment, they result in a serious social and economic set-back to the sustainable
development. Climate change-induced disasters pose even greater threat to sustainable
development in developing country like Pakistan which is ranked quite amongst the most
vulnerable countries. Continuous floods of 2010, 2011 and 2012 are seen as an indication of
more intense and frequent extreme events in the future. Disaster risk reduction interventions
carried out in the country till date by different departments / agencies in isolation at national,
province and district levels. NDMA, being the lead focal agency for disaster preparedness and
management, has embarked upon formulation of a comprehensive National Disaster Risk
Reduction Policy through wider consultations with all stakeholders. The policy promote priority
measures to ameliorate existing vulnerabilities to hazards and ensure that future development
initiatives add resilience. The policy also seeks to provide guideline for timely, dedicated and
adequate investment on hazard mitigation and preparedness interventions at all levels which will
not only substantially reduce the disaster risk but also the consequential damages & economic
cost associated with response, recovery and rehabilitation. This paper shall highlight in detail
recurring challenges and difficulties faced by different organizations while responding to
disasters in Pakistan.
Hazard Trends
Past disaster events in Pakistan show that the disaster situation is an annual phenomenon.Climate
change and changes in precipitation is bringing more hydro metrological disasters to the country
with the damage location shifting to the western side of the country . New settlements are
panding to hazard prone zones that are recognized by local people and local governments. The
trend may continue in the future because the population growth in Pakistan remained high at
about 2.7 percent during 1981 to 1998. In conclusion, Pakistan’s future disasters will be more

3. frequent and their impact on social, economic and environmental factors will be greater than that
of today.
Disaster Management Planning System
According to the National Disaster Management Act 2010, each disaster management
organization shall prepare a disaster management plan as illustrated below.
COMMON NATURAL DISASTERS IN PAKISTAN

4. CHALLENGES / DIFFICULTIES IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Pakistan continues to suffer from a plethora of natural and man-made hazards that
threaten to affect the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. The natural disasters include floods,
earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, and drought. The man-made disasters include human conflicts,
accidents, and infrastructure failure. Over the last few years, Pakistan has experienced large
natural disasters, such as the 2005 Earthquake, 2010 Cyclone Phet and 2010 Pakistan Flood,
which caused significant impact on human lives and the national economy in Pakistan. These are
highlighted below in detail.
Disaster Management Administration at National, Provincial and Local Levels
The Pakistan Government has established NDMA, F/G/S/PDMAs and DDMAs as key
organizations in disaster management at national, provincial and local levels respectively.
However, the disaster management organization at the national level has not been established
with clear roles and responsibilities among the federal ministries. Moreover, linkages between
different organizations at national and provincial level are nonexistent. There is no clear
coordination mechanism between management authorities at national and provincial level. Since
the NDRMF was prepared in 2007, Pakistan has experienced heavy flood damage in 2010 and
DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN

5. 2011.The coordination mechanism of disaster management among national, provincial and local
levels needs to be strengthened.
Disaster Management System in the Stages of Pre, During and Post Disaster Periods
Emergency response has remained a predominant activity of disaster management in Pakistan.
Pakistani Army plays a significant role in disaster management, especially in emergency
response and early recovery phases. For mitigation and preparedness in the pre-disaster stage,
the disaster risk management concept should be placed in the project formulation period. During
the post-disaster stage, there are no clear institutional systems or funding sources for disaster
rehabilitation and reconstruction. Therefore, the district, provincial and federal governments
need to prepare disaster management plans covering actions and measures to be taken in all
stages of pre, during and post-disaster situations.
Mechanisms for Monitoring and Assessment of Disaster Risks
There is a lack of knowledge and information about hazard identification, risk assessment and
management, and linkages between livelihoods and disaster preparedness. Risk and vulnerability
assessments of hazards are prepared by different agencies like FFC, PMD, NDMA, /G/S/PDMAs
and DDMAs, but they are not effectively coordinated or integrated. Risk assessment and
monitoring of hazards is essential for disaster risk management. A multi-hazard approach to
disaster risk reduction should be placed into risk assessment and a multi-hazard early warning
system to save lives, property and livelihoods should be established.
Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Measures into Development
Disaster risk management, development planning and environmental management operate in
isolation and integrated planning between these sectors is almost completely lacking. The
National Development Plan should include a disaster risk reduction approach as a part of the
nation’s sustainable development policies. There are no long-term, inclusive or coherent
planning systems to address disaster issues with a national vision. NDMA determined ten
ministries and started evaluation of development projects with reference to the disaster risk
management concept. However, there is an absence of a central authority to integrate disaster
management into development planning. A dedicated fund for disaster management at the
federal level has never been a part of the overall development planning.

6. Disaster Risk Management at Local and Community Levels
There is a lack of knowledge and skills of officials in relevant agencies and civil society in
disaster management. State-level disaster preparedness and mitigation measures are oriented
towards structural measures and undermine non-structural measures such as training, education
and awareness of disaster risk management. Disaster related departments and organizations
remain under-resourced and untrained and are not given required training and education. The
community is the heart of disaster management. Enhancing the knowledge and capacities of
people regarding protection of their livelihood from disasters is important in disaster
management.
Strengthening Capacity of Stake Holders in Disaster Management
Training is an integral component of capacity building and it needs to be designed for specific
needs and equipped with a practical approach. Strengthening of human resources is essential to
disaster management. Participants in disaster management include government organizations at
national, provincial and local levels, NGOs, CBOs, international donor agencies, private sector
enterprises, religious organizations, Civil Defence, police, and the community. Since each of
these have specific work areas, strengths and weaknesses, it is important for them to complement
each other’s efforts to achieve an efficient overall disaster management system. For the purpose
of capacity building in disaster management, the National Institute Of Disaster Management
(NIDM) shall play a key role. Comprehensive disaster management courses and practical
training shall be prepared by NIDM and it needs to develop symbiotic linkages with other
research institutions and universities to enhance knowledge of disaster management.
National Disaster Response Force
The Response Force was required to be established in the country to effectively respond to
disasters and emergencies. It shall comprise of 86 members, each based on International Search
and Rescue Advisory Group (INSRAG) standards, and will be provided all necessary equipment,
as per INSRAG guidelines. It will be under the operational command of the respective
FATA/GB/State/ Provincial Disaster Management Authority (F/G/S/PDMAs) and their trainings
shall be provided at Emergency Services Academy, Lahore, NIDM and in other related
institutions both in country and abroad. The general supervision, direction and operation of the
Force shall be prescribed by NDMA in consultation with F/G/S/PDMAs. The Response Force

7. shall also be deployed anywhere in the world by the NDMA, upon request made to it through
diplomatic channel.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE MEASURES
Detailed activities with check list of functions duties and coordinating efforts required in
response phase of disaster are enlisted below. The activities are just a guideline and may change
as per the ground situation.
Securing Information Collection, Dissemination and Communication
 Collecting Damage Information for Rapid Assessment and Correspondence
 Securing Means of Communications
Securing Emergency Response Operation System
 Establishing System of Local Governments for Actions
 Establishing Wide-Area Assistance System
 Preparation of System for Action of NDMA, F/G/S/PDMAs, DDMA, and Other Relevant
Organizations
 Holding Meetings of Correspondences among Departments and Agencies relevant to
Disaster Management
 Gathering Staff (teams) for Emergency and Holding Minister Councils
 Establishing NEOC and other Centers for Responding to Disaster Emergency
Rescue/First Aid, Medical Treatment, and Fire Extinguishing Activities
 Rescue/First Aid Activities
 Securing Means of Communications
 Medical Treatment Activities
 Fire Extinguishing Activities
Securing Transportation Network and Function for Emergency Transportation Activities
 Basic Strategy on Securing Transportation Network and Function for Emergency
Transportation
 Securing Transportation Network and Function
 Securing Fuel

8. Activities on Evacuation Centres
 Leading Evacuations
 Establishing/Managing Evacuation Sites
 Temporary Shelters and Other Housing
 Accommodating Wide-Area Evacuation
 Caring for Population of Vulnerable Groups
Activities on Provision of Food, Water and Daily Commodities
 Coordination by NEOC
 Providing Commodities by Local Governments
 Activities of Relevant National Government Agencies Responsible for Providing Goods
Activities on Sanitation, Health, Epidemic Prevention, Treatment of Human Remains
 Sanitation
 Public Health
 Psycho-Social Aspects
 Epidemic Prevention
 Treatment of Human Remains
Activities on Safety Control, and Stabilization of Commodities Price
 Safety Control
 Stabilize Commodity Prices and Commodity Supplies
Temporary Recovery Activities on Buildings, Utilities, and Others
 Emergency Recovery Activities of Facilities and Utilities
 NEOCs’ Roles Regarding Lifeline Facilities
 Activities on Emergency Response for Recovery of Housing
Activities on Distributing Appropriate Information to Disaster Victims
 Activities on Information Dissemination to Disaster Victims
 Disseminating Accurate Information to Residents
 Response to Inquiry of Residents
Activities on Preventing Secondary Disasters
 Measures for Flood and Sediment Disasters
 Building Damage
 Measures for Cyclones and Storm Surges

9.  Measures for Secondary Disasters by Explosive and Toxic Substances
Accepting Support from Volunteers and Domestic/International Aid
 Accommodating Volunteers
 Accepting Donations from Citizens and Other Members of Society
 Accepting Foreign Donations
Ref
www.pmd.gov.pk
National Disaster Management plan- Aug 2012
Disaster Risk Reduction Policy-2013