The Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, visited the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to review its progress and explore potential collaborations in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience initiatives. Lieutenant General Inam Haider, Chairman NDMA, briefed the Minister on various initiatives, including weather observation datasets, a six-month seasonal outlook, weather-related anomalies, and the advanced e-Multi Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (e-MHRA). Key areas of focus included disaster reduction strategies, anticipatory actions, flood extent mapping, and the operations of the logistics, international coordination, and plans wings. During the visit, Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja commended the advanced work being carried out at the national level. She remarked, “State-of-the-art work is being done in terms of national-level data, and we can form a working committee or task force to work together and add further value.” The Minister proposed that NDMA collaborate with Ministry of IT and it’s departments to prioritize areas most vulnerable to climate risks. She emphasized the importance of leveraging existing telecommunications infrastructure and broadband towers to facilitate automated emergency responses, especially in Pakistan’s northern regions prone to natural disasters. Minister Khawaja also highlighted the critical need for integrating agricultural technology to address climate challenges, citing the country’s limited resources. “We need immediate collaboration with agricultural technology to mitigate risks and enhance resilience,” she stated. NDMA suggested exploring the use of telecommunications and broadband towers for automated emergency facilitation, minimizing delays in approvals during critical situations. In response, the Minister announced that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the telecom wing would collaborate with NDMA to develop automated response mechanisms. The Minister further revealed plans to establish a National Digital Commission, which will serve as a blueprint for governance and coordination across the country. “The National Digital Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, will include all Chief Ministers and focus on unified digital governance. It will provide for blue print for digital masterplan for governance and coordination process,” she shared. Applauding NDMA’s efforts, Minister Khawaja concluded, “The work done by NDMA is phenomenal and a perfect example to replicate in other departments of the country. We need this level of innovation and efficiency in every aspect of governance.”
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