Sir: The current tragedy of the Balochistan earthquake is a wakeup call for us about the rundown state of disaster planning. The 2005 earthquake was already witness to our slow response in coping with disasters. We are in the fault line region so we should be prepared for emergency challenges. The floods devastation of 2011-2012 raised questions about our disaster management skills. The purpose of disaster management is to have a strategy in place to reduce and avoid, where possible, potential losses, assure prompt and appropriate support for victims, and achieve rapid and durable recovery. Even though our record of disasters and their subsequent destruction is on the increase, we are unable to act appropriately and responsibly.
Every natural disaster has a different scale, duration, intensity, density of population and assets it affects and time of occurrence. Even so, it is a simple enough procedure to comprehend and work towards minimising risk factors related to all types of disasters. Observing any disaster management cycle, we can learn that preparation plays a dominant role in any pre-disaster period but we are giving no importance to this. We must work hard to prevent disaster-related destruction. Our experts should make a dynamic plan and strategise how to deal with the consequences of any calamity. We are clueless about the vulnerability of any area that may be disaster-prone. Our response mechanism is also not timely. Information systems, public education and planning are all lacking in helping us cope. We require a scientific method to secure a strong institutional framework that will guide our resources towards successful disaster management in the future.
SANAULLAH ATTIQUE CHINJNI
Islamabad