Comprehensive disaster risk management plan stressed

CHITRAL: Speakers at a training workshop have stressed the need for a comprehensive and integrated disaster risk management plan.

They made a call at a two-day training workshop titled “Disaster Risk Management Reporting” organised by the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat Pakistan (AKAH-P), which concluded on Wednesday at the Chitral Press Club.

The workshop brought together journalists from both Upper and Lower Chitral, representing print, electronic, and social media platforms.The primary objective of the training was to enhance the capacity of local journalists to report more effectively, constructively, and responsibly during natural disasters and emergencies.

District Police Officer of Lower Chitral, Iftikhar Shah, pointed to the frequent occurrence of natural disasters in underdeveloped and remote areas like Chitral.He stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive and integrated disaster risk management plan.

Wali Muhammad Khan emphasized the importance of building journalistic capacity in disaster reporting and shared that AKAH-P had been working through a well-established network of trained volunteers and equipped stockpiles to respond to emergencies in remote areas.Participants of the workshop, including Suroosh, Ashraf Hussain, and Chitral Press Club President Zahiruddin, shared their experiences and appreciated the hands-on sessions.They noted that the training included practical exercises in first aid and other field-relevant skills essential for journalists to carry out their duties effectively during and after disasters.