SUKKUR: District Disaster Management Authority, in collaboration with HANDS, a non-governmental organization, organised International Disaster Risk Reduction and National Disaster awareness event. Addressing the event, Sukkur Deputy Mayor Tarique Chohan said that lack of funding has hampered precautionary and mitigation activities for various hazards. He admitted lack of coordination among departments during calamities and emphasised upon them to increase their coordination to minimise losses in case of any mishap. PPP Divisional President Haji Anwar Khan Mahar stressed on implementation and enforcement of building codes policy as to reduce future damages by natural calamities. He said that earthquake and other natural calamities not only affected human lives but also severely damaged socio-economic fabric of the society. Assistant Commissioner New Taluka Sukkur said that 2005 earthquake was an eye opener for government of Pakistan and as a result now we have legal and administrative network for disaster risk management across the country. Sukkur HANDS District Manager said that they had imparted disaster risk reduction training to more than 48 schools of Sukkur. Murtaza Gangharo, Mir Abdul Rahim Mangal, Dr Ahmed Ali Khoso, Mushtaque Tanwari, Anas Ganghro, Farooque Soomro, Shaid Channa and others also spoke on the occasion. Special prayers were offered for victims of the 2005 earthquake. Published in Daily Times, November 2nd 2017.