National Disaster Response Plan (NDRP) March 2010 - NDMA

1. Institutional Framework
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PART- III
DISASTER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
a. The West Pakistan National Calamities (Prevention and Relief) Act 1958. West
Pakistan National Calamities (Prevention and Relief) Act 1958 provides for the
maintenance and restoration of order in areas affected by calamities, and relief against
such calamities. The Calamities Act 1958 was mainly focused on organizing
emergency response. This act was later amended when the four provinces were
created in 1971. After the abolition of one unit in 1971, the provinces adopted the 1958
Calamities Act with some changes in content as per their requirements. In province of
the Punjab, a dedicated department with the name of “Relief and Crisis Management
Department” was established in 1975. In other provinces, Senior Member Board of
Revenue (SMBR) was designated Relief Commissioner ex-officio.
b. Emergency Relief Cell (ERC) 9 . Emergency Relief Cell (ERC) was created within
the Cabinet Division in 1971 and is responsible for disaster relief at national level. It
provides assistance in cash and kind to supplement the resources of the Provincial
Governments in event of major disaster. Additionally, it extends helping hand to the
calamity stricken friendly countries as and when required. ERC coordinates activities of
all the related agencies i.e; Federal divisions, Provincial Governments, semi-
governmental, international and including national aid giving agencies during relief
operation. It administers the Prime Minister's Flood Relief Fund and also maintains an
Aviation Squadron with a fleet of helicopters to assist rescue operations and enable
officials to visit the affected areas.
c. National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC). NNMC was established in July
1999 under Anti-Terrorist Act in the Ministry of Interior. The main functions of the
NCMC are:-
(1) To collect information regarding various emergencies in the country.
(2) To coordinate with Provincial Crisis Management Cell
(3) To coordinate with other relevant agencies to collect relevant information.
(4) Responsible for coordinating plans for emergency relief services in case of
emergency situation.
d. National Disaster Management Ordinance (NDMO). The loss of life and property
and the challenges that were faced in the aftermath of October 2005 Earthquake,
affecting Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the NWFP Province exhibited the need for
establishing appropriate policy and institutional arrangements to reduce losses from
9 Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan