National Disaster Management Authority and the UN Launch Campaign for One Million Safe Schools, Hospitals and Resilient Cites

Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) today launched the “Resilient Cities” and “One Million Safe Schools and Hospitals” campaign in the Prime Minister’s Secretariat Auditorium, Islamabad, on the eve of National Disaster Awareness Day 2011, with top officials of the relevant federal and provincial governments and partner agencies promising to make safety a priority in hazard prone cities, schools and hospitals.

Chairman Parliamentary Flood Relief Committee, Senator Nayyar Bukhari was the Chief Guest, while Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlström, participated as the Guest of Honour; the Chairman NDMA, Dr. Zafar Qadir also participated in the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest of the occasion, Syed Nayyar Bukhari said that living nations learn from their past to make their future safe and better. He expressed the resolve that with the launch of these campaigns and other policy directions to undertake structural and non structural measures by the National and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities, the Government of Pakistan will ensure that its schools and hospitals would function, even in disasters.

Representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs while giving key note address of the Minister for Foreign Affairs said that it is reassuring to see the resilience of people of Pakistan in the face of disasters. He expressed the hope that the launching of this campaign in Pakistan will give impetus to measures against the disasters.

In her address Margareta Wahlström appreciated initiative of the government of Pakistan to launch this campaign and said that the social impact of such initiatives goes beyond the effects of disasters. She informed the august gathering that 900 cities around the world are participating in this campaign and sharing their experiences. Ms Wahlstrom expressed the hope that the government of Pakistan will consider making substantial investment in disaster management.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman NDMA, Dr. Zafar Qadir remarked that the launching of this campaign in Pakistan will add a new chapter in the disaster management system to make our cities safe, resilient and liveable in wake of disasters.

For more information, contact:
Ahmed Kamal
Spokesperson
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Tel: +9251 9215412
Cell: +92300 5278981 and +92331-5657779
Email: maf@ndma.gov.pk