ISLAMABAD: A delegation of national coordinators and senior representatives from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states visited the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquarters in Islamabad.
The delegation was visiting Pakistan in connection with the first meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators (CNC) under Pakistan’s chairmanship. Representatives from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were part of the delegation.
The NDMA team briefed the visiting representatives on the operational capabilities of NEOC and Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen proactive disaster management and emergency response systems.
NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik briefed the delegation on various initiatives aimed at strengthening disaster risk reduction (DRR) and promoting regional and international cooperation.
He highlighted opportunities for greater cooperation among SCO member states in areas including disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, knowledge sharing, capacity building and coordinated emergency response.
The chairman also proposed greater regional coordination on proactive disaster management through common DRR approaches to help SCO countries address shared risks linked to climate change and regional vulnerabilities.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of technological innovation and institutional cooperation in responding to increasingly complex disasters and emerging climate-related risks.
The visiting delegation appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to modernise its disaster management system and strengthen the operational capabilities of NEOC.
The visit provided an opportunity for SCO member states to explore greater cooperation and exchange expertise in disaster preparedness, early warning, emergency response and resilience building.
Stronger regional cooperation in these areas can help countries improve preparedness and reduce the human and economic impacts of climate-related and other disasters.
