PDMA marks National Disaster Awareness Day

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) observed ‘National Disaster Awareness Day’ on Thursday to express solidarity with victims of the October 8, 2005 earthquake.
The PDMA held a ceremony at the Government High School No.1 City. Participants from Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, students and teachers attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Azmat Wazir, director relief of the PDMA, said that in the 2005 earthquake, northern parts of the province were badly affected.
Muzaffarabad was the hardest hit area mainly because the epicenter of earthquake was just 19 kilometres (12 miles) to its northeast, he added.
He said the PDMA, Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence were observing the day in the memory of the martyrs of the devastating quake, which left more than 74,000 people dead and millions of others injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
The official said the PDMA had recently established Disaster Risk Management Strategic Unit, which would work on risk assessment studies, surveys, capacity building and advocacy.
“The PDMA also intends to involve all stakeholders,
particularly organisations
with extensive experience
in disaster risk management, to make Disaster Resilient Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he added.
On the occasion, officials from the Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence also performed “Special Rescue & Relief” operations for the awareness of students.