The PRCS Chairman highlights the importance of climate-driven efforts and cooperative measures to enhance resilience building.
In Islamabad, Pakistan is tackling various climate-induced and geo-meteorological issues, striving for proactive disaster management. The Pakistan Red Crescent Society, in conjunction with the German Red Cross and The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), among other esteemed partners like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Concern Worldwide (CWW), and UN OCHA, organized the inaugural National Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Actions in Pakistan.
The country has faced floods, heatwaves, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), droughts, cyclones, extreme temperatures, forest fires, and earthquakes, all posing grave threats to lives, displacing communities, and damaging infrastructure. This two-day event aims to bring together diverse stakeholders to collaboratively devise a comprehensive plan for anticipatory action in Pakistan.
Representatives from humanitarian groups, meteorologists, climate scientists, national governments, academia, community leaders, and decision-makers gathered to discuss bolstering anticipatory action and forecast-based financing to reduce the impact of expected disasters. The focus was on strategies to integrate anticipatory action concepts into ongoing projects and improve the use of weather and climate data for better disaster preparedness.
Chairman PRCS, Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, stressed the importance of collaboration in climate-centric initiatives, remarking, “Our focus should prioritize climate-driven initiatives coupled with timely early actions to reduce disaster impact on vulnerable communities. COP28 discussions are aligned with Anticipatory Actions as well. The National Dialogue Platform is a crucial step towards enhancing resilience, and the Red Crescent Society is dedicated to collaborating with all partners for effective anticipatory actions.”
Laghari mentioned PRCS’s plans to develop Early Action Protocols in highly vulnerable districts of Sindh, Punjab & KP along the Indus River basin, seeking support from NDMA and other provincial stakeholders to achieve this goal.
Chairman NDMA, Lt. General Inam Haider Malik, highlighted the event’s significance, stating, “The challenges posed by climate-induced disasters require a collective and proactive response. This platform provides an opportunity for stakeholders to converge, share knowledge, and devise strategies for proactive disaster management.”
He emphasized that this event underscores Pakistan’s commitment to fostering resilience and collaboration in addressing climate-related challenges. By leveraging the expertise of diverse stakeholders, the National Dialogue Platform aims to pave the way for a more anticipatory and effective disaster management approach in Pakistan.