The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the telecom wing are set to collaborate with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to improve emergency response efforts, according to a recent press release.
This partnership will leverage telecommunications infrastructure and broadband towers to facilitate automated emergency services, as stated by the Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja. The collaboration aims to streamline disaster response and reduce delays in approval processes during critical situations.
Minister Shaza Fatima visited the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) at NDMA to assess its progress. She highlighted the potential for collaboration in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience, particularly in minimizing delays during emergency situations.
During her visit, she also unveiled plans for establishing a National Digital Commission, which will focus on unified digital governance across Pakistan. Chaired by the Prime Minister and involving all Chief Ministers, this commission will coordinate digital governance efforts across the country.
Lieutenant General Inam Haider, Chairman of the NDMA, briefed the Minister on various initiatives, including weather observation datasets and a six-month seasonal outlook. He also discussed advanced tools like the e-Multi Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (e-MHRA) and strategies for disaster reduction, anticipatory actions, flood extent mapping, and improved logistics operations.
The Minister commended the NDMA’s work in data collection and analysis, suggesting the formation of a working committee to further enhance collaboration. She proposed that NDMA collaborate with the Ministry of IT and its departments to identify and prioritize regions most vulnerable to climate risks, using telecommunications infrastructure to support automated emergency responses, especially in Pakistan’s northern regions, which are prone to natural disasters.
In her remarks, Minister Khawaja stressed the importance of integrating agricultural technology to address the country’s climate challenges, noting Pakistan’s limited resources. She called for immediate collaboration with the agricultural sector to mitigate risks and enhance resilience.
Praising NDMA’s efforts, Minister Khawaja concluded, “The work done by NDMA is phenomenal and a model to replicate across other departments. We need this level of innovation and efficiency in every aspect of governance.”
