DMS must cope with any kind of disastrous situation: Fehmida
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Acting President Dr. Fehmida Mirza has appreciated the role of NDMA in managing the recent national disaster of Baluchistan and said that only proactive approach can help in reducing the impacts of these disasters.
She made these remarks while chairing a meeting arranged for the Members of "Special Oversight Committee for Displaced Persons of Tribal Areas" on the relief and rehabilitation activities in the earthquake affected areas of Baluchistan here on Wednesday.
Shaukat Nawaz Tahir, Senior Member National Disaster Management Authority, briefed the meeting and told that the death toll of earthquake was 163 and 175 were injured while 710 houses were completely damaged. As a whole 800 families were affected and 7000-10,000 people of 218 villages were displaced.
It was also told that the manpower and resources were employed from the military and the civil armed forces and the rescue teams comprising Army and the Frontier Corps troops, the Army Aviation helicopters and the Army Medical Corps have been engaged in relief operation while medicines and makeshift medical stores were already delivered to the affected areas. The meeting was informed that International donors and foreign governments have donated cash and commodities for the victims of earthquake. The Acting President stressed that disaster management system should be able to cope with any kind of disastrous situation and for this purpose govt. should use all the resources at its disposal.
She also emphasized that prevention and mitigation should be the frontline of our policy in disaster management instead of relief and rescue and directed the NDMA authorities to further expedite the ongoing relief and rehabilitation activities in the earthquake affected areas of Baluchistan.
The briefing was attended by Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah, Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Mr. Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Members of Special Oversight Committee for Displaced Persons of Tribal Areas and other Parliamentarians.