NOT TO BE PUBLISHED/TELECASTED/ BROADCASTED BY PRINT/ELECTRONIC MEDIA BEFORE NATIONAL RESILIENCE DAY i.e. 8TH OCTOBER, 2018. PR No. 55 Message from the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (On the occasion of National Resilience Day 8th October, 2018) Islamabad: October 07, 2018

I express solidarity with the bereaved families, who lost their loved ones due to devastating earthquake on 8th October 2005. Since then we have been repeatedly affected by both hydro-meteorological and geo-physical disasters of enormous magnitude. We observe this day as “National Resilience Day” to not only pay homage to our people who lost their lives due to these disasters, but also as a day of our renewed national resolve for resilience. This occasion calls for urgent need to implement a paradigm shift from response-oriented approach to a proactive, integrated and holistic approach to Disaster Risk Management aligned with global frameworks including the Sendai Framework for DRR and global Sustainable Development Goals. Such an approach envisages mitigation through a mix of structural and non-structural measures, putting in place strong response mechanisms and recovery plans to minimize losses. It also underpins the need for preparing communities to better combat such adversities being the usual first responders. Today we have a robust institutional structure for disaster management in the form of National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities. We now need to strengthen the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) that are supposed to be the actual implementing bodies of DRM policy and plans at local level. This will be one of the most important components in our local government system. Government of Pakistan is cognizant of the fact that there is increase in intensity and frequency of natural disasters; and assures required resource allocation for implementation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy and National Disaster Management Plan. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED/TELECASTED/ BROADCASTED BY PRINT/ELECTRONIC MEDIA BEFORE NATIONAL RESILIENCE DAY i.e. 8TH OCTOBER, 2018.

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