ISLAMABAD: Pakistan would join 20 countries around the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) as a participant in mock tsunami scenarios on September 7-8. Pakistan would exercise the Makran Trench scenario on September 8. The purpose of this exercise is to increase preparedness, evaluate response capabilities in each country and improve coordination throughout the region, said a news release issued. The aim is to exercise all levels of the tsunami warning and response chain, with a primary focus on the local coastal community level. “The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and subsequent events in the Indian and Pacific oceans have brought to the attention of the world the urgent need to be more prepared for such events,” said Abdul Rashid, chief meteorologist. “This important exercise will test the current procedures of the Indian Ocean’s tsunami warning and mitigation system and would help identify operational strengths and weaknesses in each country,” he said.