NDMA is holding consultative meetings with all provincial / regional disaster management authorities to review pre-monsoon preparedness and contingency planning for upcoming Monsoon Season. In this regard a meeting was held with State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) AJ&K at Muzzafarabad on 24th June 2016.
A high level meeting was held at the Chief Secretary AJ&K Secretariat co-chaired by Chairman NDMA Major General Asghar Nawaz and Chief Secretary AJ&K Mr. Sultan Sikandar Raja. It was attended by IG Police, Secretary ENSE, Secretary P&D, Secretary Finance, Secretary Information, Additional Chief Secretary Development, Additional Chief Secretary General, Secretary Agriculture, Secretary Electricity, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners, representatives of NDMA and Pakistan Armed Forces.
DG SDMA Mr. Zaheer Uddin Qureshi briefed on the preparedness measures undertaken and contingency plans. Chairman NDMA emphasized the need for enhanced preparedness in the wake of above average rainfall predicted during impending monsoon season. He stressed on forward stocking of relief goods, identifications of landslide sites, strengthening of community early warning (EW) System for areas like Neelum / Upper Neelum Valley, Lipa Valley and similar inaccessible areas, initiation of public awareness campaign through radio, prepositioning of earth moving machinery and Identification of save heavens in slide prone areas for relief camps.
Chairman asked all concerned to factor in needs of vulnerable groups i.e., children, women, disabled and aged people in planning and exec of relief operations.
Chairman NDMA highlighted the need for emergency wheat stocking in areas likely to be cutoff due to landslides, engagement of utility stores for pre-positioning of Food Packs in vulnerable areas and need for timely completion of relief stocks procurement.
Earlier in a separate meeting with Chief Secretary AJK It was agreed upon that Government of AJK will work towards operationalization of State Disaster Management Fund (SDMF), for use in emergencies, as mandated under (NDM Act 2010). In this regard it was agreed that request will also be made to the federal government for strengthening of SDMA enabling it to meet the challenges of Climate Change and Disaster Management.
Chairman NDMA appreciated the efforts of SDMA in putting in place the preparatory measures based on lessons learnt from the past experiences and prevailing ground situation. Chairman NDMA assured fullest support of NDMA to the Government of AJ&K.
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