ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Interior Minister Azam Khan on Wednesday said pre-emptive strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction was vital for ensuring safety to human lives and properties in face of natural calamities and climatic catastrophes. He expressed these views during his speech as chief guest at the inaugural session of two-day International Conference on Disaster Management on Wednesday. The conference will be followed by 6th meeting of regional technical group of Disaster Management Confidence Building Measures (DM-CBM) of Heart of Asia, Istanbul Process. NDMA Pakistan is co hosting DM-CBM along with Kyrgyzstan. Azam Khan observed that the Asia-Pacific region in general and Pakistan in particular was prone to a multitude of disasters and therefore special measure were needed to handle these recurring disasters from changed weather pattern. He said that Pakistan had a vast and diverse experience of coping up with disasters and stated that other countries of the region can learn from Pakistan’s expertise in this field. NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Umar Mahmood Hayat, during his welcome address has said that Pakistan was amongst those few countries that have developed their own long term Disaster Management Plan in 2013. “We strongly believe that Disaster Risk Reduction Approach is imperative for building resilience and sustainable development, especially for developing countries like Pakistan,” he said. He underlined that Sendai Framework for DRR and Paris Climate Change Agreement provide unique opportunity to move towards the vision for “risk sensitive development as cornerstone for sustainability”. Earlier, NDMA member Idrees Mahsood gave an overview of the conference. NDMA Pakistan is hosting an International Conference with expert group discussions addressing Disaster Risks Specific to Pakistan until tomorrow (Friday) in Islamabad. The central theme for the conference is Capitalising on Pakistan’s Vast Experience in Handling Disasters, Creating Synergies among Global Frameworks for Resilience-Lessons Learnt and the Way Forward for the Region. The meetings will be split into three sub themes, Pakistan’s Experience in Managing Mega Disaster, Lessons to be Learnt and Analysing related Global Frameworks for resilience with the aim to create synergies and strengthen risk governance. Three days exhaustive discussions at this forum will provide a great opportunity for NDMA to understand the challenges and emerging requirements for effective implementation of risk-sensitive sustainable development strategies that are needed to be contextualised to the specific disaster risks facing Pakistan. The main focus will thus be on the progress achieved so far under Disaster Management – CBMs, and future course for implementation of the approved activities, deliberations on the future road map of DM-CBM. NDMA Pakistan, as a leading organisation from Pakistan is also hosting the 6th Regional Technical Group Meeting in Islamabad on last day of conference tomorrow (Friday). It is expected that a technical focal persons each from the Heart of Asia participating states and from supporting countries and delegates from international and regional organisations including United Nation, The World Bank and European Union etc shall participate in the meeting. Published in Daily Times, June 21st 2018.