PDMA prepares winter contingency plan 2023-24

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has formulated the winter contingency plan for 2023-24 in order to cope with various natural hazards, which the province may face during the winter season.

An official communique said the plan, formulated under the guidance of Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department Khyber Pakhtun-khwa, encompasses strategies to manage hazards such as extreme low temperatures, fog/smog, snowfall, rainfall, landslides, flash floods, and seismic activities in the mountainous north and west.

Director General PDMA Muhammad Qaisar Khan said that the winter contingency plan 2023-24 was initiated in October 2023, involving key stakeholders such as the Federal Government, Provincial Line Departments, District Administration, UNDP GLOF-II, and other development partners.

“Digital tools for data collection were developed and shared, including information of district/sector-specific hazards, vulnerability profiles, hazard impacts, damages, compensation details, resource mapping, need assessment, and coordination efforts, “ he added.

The contingency plan offers a comprehensive overview of the winter hazard profiles for each district in the province. It includes details on the Composite Risk Score for every district based on various hazards and outlines corresponding risks, along with an estimation of the vulnerable population in case of emergencies. The plan further guides districts in mapping vulnerable sites and developing contingency plans, identifying roles and responsibilities of various departments to ensure a coordinated response to unfavorable scenarios.

Muhammad Qaisar Khan emphasized that the contingency planning for major hazards facilitates the initiation of mitigation measures and ensures a coordinated response to minimize loss of life and property during disasters.