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PESHAWAR, Oct 03 (APP):The Provincial Disaster Management Authority, under the guidance of the Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday commenced the process of developing the Winter Contingency Plan for 2023-24 in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
The primary objectives are to minimize disaster risks, identify hazards, assess risks, and map available resources to enhance preparedness and ensure a coordinated and prompt response.
In this context, a crucial pre-winter planning and orientation meeting was convened with the Provincial Line Departments, chaired by PDMA Director General, Janat Gul Afridi. Director General Janat Gul Afridi said, “We have initiated the Winter Contingency Planning process involving all stakeholders, and the plan is expected to be finalized by mid-November.
We have developed data collection tools and shared them with stakeholders, including information on district/sector-specific hazards, vulnerability profiles, hazard impacts, damages, compensation details, resource mapping, needs assessments, and coordination efforts.”
He added, “Through the upcoming contingency plan, our aim is to mitigate potential losses caused by winter-related natural hazards including extreme low temperatures, fog/smog, snowfall, rainfall, landslides, flash floods and seismic activity in the mountainous north and west.”
The Winter Contingency Plan will categorize districts based on Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, ranging from very high to low vulnerability levels.
Each weather pattern will have its own set of contingencies. The unique geography, terrain, and natural resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expose the province to various climate-related challenges during both summer and winter.
Regions such as Malakand and Hazara Divisions, due to their high altitudes, face extreme winter conditions for approximately four months, from December to March, which include low temperatures, fog/smog, snowfall, rainfall, landslides, avalanches, and the consequent disruption of transportation.
Deputy Director of Disaster Risk Management at PDMA, Sahibzada Saleem, explained that PDMA has initiated the process of implementing proactive preparedness measures in line with guidelines established by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
This will streamline responses at both provincial and district levels in close coordination with all stakeholders.
The contingency planning for major hazards will enable the implementation of necessary mitigation measures and facilitate a coordinated response to minimize the loss of life and property during disaster events.
This inclusive exercise involves assessing available resources, hazard analysis, and estimating potential relief caseloads as part of the planning assumptions.
PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is an active provincial-level Disaster Management Organization, specializing in Disaster Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness, and Planning.
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