Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

prioritized schemes for restoration and rehabilitation of
infrastructure and livelihood in next 3 years, subject to availability of
funds. The NDMA is to be a body corporate under Act XXIV of
2010 gazetted on 11 th December 2010. It was initially established
under a Presidential Ordinance in 2006 ‘....to regulate the national
disaster management system to overcome unforeseen
situations’. Referring to the pre-flood events in 2010, it was given
out that on 28 th June 2010, at an inter-government / inter-agency
preparatory session, the Chairman reviewed the pre-flood state of
preparedness to respond to any eventuality keeping in view the
weather forecast by the Meteorology Department: All Provincial
Governments, except the Punjab, armed forces and international
community attended that consultative review. With the change in
the weather forecasts towards end of 3 rd week of July, the NDMA
continued to alert all concerned for rescue and relief operations, to
mobilize potential resources of men and material and managed to
save many precious lives, beginning with operations in KP. For the
purpose, the NDMA tapped all resources for relief/ rescue
operations, with swiftest possible deliveries, local and foreign. It
handled 227 Foreign Flights, unloaded at various stations and
dispatched relief items promptly, keeping in view operational
capacity of the receiving Airports. Location-wise destinations/
arrivals of flights were: Chaklala (144), Karachi (32), Lahore (03)
Multan (23), Peshawar (19), and Quetta (6); Shahbaz Airport,
Jacobabad handled some 200 flights to provide an air-bridge for the
area isolated for almost 40-60 days. Recounting further, the NDMA
led operations, specific details were provided: 42 de-Watering
Pumps, 488,243 Tents, 931,293 Tarpaulin Sheets, 126,731 Plastic
Mats, 1, 899,175 Blankets, 290,262 Mosquito-nets, 9,696 Shelter-
Kits, 412,384 Kitchen-sets and 9,868 Kerosene-Stoves, 10. 750
million Ready-Meals, 330,000 Tons in Miscellaneous food items,
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