Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

74. A comprehensive Disaster Risk Management plan is required to be
developed by the NDMA. To do so it has to take an overview of many factors that
impinges on this function under stressful conditions. According to an ADB paper
‘a disaster plan must incorporate measures to reduce exposure. A reliable
system must contemplate reducing exposure, early warning and strengthen
resilience of the affectees before, during the onset of the calamity, and later in
restoration stages. It also identified various elements including but not limited to:
a) Acceleration of programs for infrastructure improvements to keep up with
ballooning urban population; to develop alternatives to those living in high-risk
areas, protection and restoration of ecosystems that buffer the impact of natural
hazards; b) ensuring timely warnings to reach individuals, to develop flexible
systems ranging from global monitoring, regional, and national preparation to
local emergency action; customize wording of warnings and methods used for
local communities; to expand income options in rural areas, reducing reliance on
a single crop; and c) encouraging regional cooperation that helps stricken
economies to recover, protection and restoration of ecosystems that provide and
enhance the livelihood of rural populations’
75. On behalf of civil society, a case was made out for early restoration of LG
systems; that was a legitimate suggestion but needs democratic realignment of
its design to strengthen management structures for good governance; it is not to
be a mutually exclusive system at the cost of good administration by colour blind
rule. The 2001 LG system, put on hold in all the Provinces, and not practiced in
44 cantonments administered under a 1924 Act and Islamabad managed under
1960 MA Ordinance, despite two elections in 2001 and 2005 and removal of
reasons for not enforcing two Ordinances of 2002 need serious consideration
too.
76. Before concluding, the Commission will like to flag its concerns about
frequent efforts and attempts to tamper and meddle with tried and tested
management and administrative structures of the country, and without any plans
for up gradation of essential skills except investing in foreign demand-led areas.
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