Pakistan among top 10 countries in disaster: PDMA

LAHORE

Punjab Disaster and Management Authority (PDMA) Director Dr Khurram Shehzad said Pakistan is among top 10 countries so far as disaster is concerned across the globe.

Addressing a seminar titled “Responsible journalism and disaster reporting” held at a private university, he said PDMA was established after the huge flood of 2010 and confronted every flood till this date. “We have more than 800 disaster boats,” he said. 

Dr Khurram said that in 2016 revamping initiatives installed trackers in those boats. “We have 13 major barrages in Punjab and all the date continuously pouring in to the control room set up in head office”, he added.  He said most of the last monsoon season there were 29 deaths and 20 of the electrocuted were children. Media should highlight awareness campaign in this regard. 

Dr Mugheesuddin said media should play its due role in reporting the disaster. “We have seen much havoc and horrible scenes in media coverage of 2005 earthquake. Another example of bad disaster reporting of media coverage of International Islamic University, Islamabad hostel fire,” he said.  

He said the disaster reporting directly links with ethical and unethical reporting. He cited example of Ojhri camp incident 1988 when then ISPR and government failed to manage the media. 

Nadeem Zaeem said no media person could justify disaster reporting if he could not visit the disaster site. Most of the disasters happened in rural areas where major media groups have allocated no reporters but only correspondents who have no training of reporting at all.

He said responsible journalism for disasters cannot be possible without proper training. 

He said in 2014 drought-hit the Thar area, 2005 earthquake where responsible journalism needed to highlight true picture of disaster. 

Jam Sajjad said Rescue 1122 had no access to building maps as practice in the developed countries. LDA building fire where casual attitude of people and building owners were witnessed and came into the inquiry report,” he said.  

Baldiya Factory, Karachi in which 300 people died, he said. “If there is a blast in Manchester, they revamp the whole system,’ he said. Duplicating role of Civil Defence and Rescue 1122 is one of the major problems in the disaster reporting, he added. He said media usually focus on response but do not highlight the other aspects of the disaster. Fake calls to Rescue 1122 was also problem in disaster reporting, he added. 

extended: The Punjab government has extended the service of army officers appointed in Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for the period of two years. 

In this regard, a notification was issued on Thursday.

The army officers whose service has been extended include Additional Director Special Operation Col Arshad Khan, Additional Director Intelligence-I Lt Col Iftekhar Ali and Additional Director Intelligence-II Lt Col Muhammed Afzaal.