The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar has highly eulogized the successful holding of disaster management exhibition under the aegis of Peshawar University and said that no effort will be spared to ensuring risk and disaster free life in the country especially in this province.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the 3-Day Disaster Preparedness and Management Exhibition organised by Disaster Management Centre at its premises on Thursday, the Governor assured to help it in provision of Satellite Weather Radar system as soon as possible.
The floods havocs of 2010 warrants the need that the province must have an early warning system and the government needs to play pro-active role in management of disasters, he added.
In all more than 48 national and international organizations displayed their products and research findings in the exhibitions.
The concluding ceremony was also addressed by the vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Dr. Qibla Ayaz and the Chairman of the Disaster Management Centre, Prof. Dr. Amir Nawaz Khan.
The Governor astressed the need for promotion of awareness and pointed out, “let us not leave every thing to be tackled by government, rather the educational institutions right at the primary level needs to be involved towards promotion of awareness and educate the people”.
Students at all levels he remarked should be educated about preventive measures. According to an estimate, he added, we have suffered economic losses worth 40 billion US dollars due to natural disasters since independence especially because of earthquakes and floods.
Talking about historical facts, the Governor said, Pakistan has been a victim of disasters both natural and man-made ever since its independence and the Earthquake-2005 followed by Flood havocs in 2010 was the eye openers for the government and general public alike.
The governor stressed the need for mainstreaming the process of disaster management in regular development planning rather handling it in isolation.. He also urged the need of efficient coordination amongst respective organizations and institutions to avoid vulnerability.
Referring to precautionary measures, he said, the challenges of poor construction practices; lack of land use planning; inefficient early warning system; shortage of professional human resource base; lack of awareness and limited capacity has to be tackled as top priorities. He also congratulated the management of the University for its wisdom oriented activities and assured every possible support for continuing its constructive activities.
Prof. Dr. Amir Nawaz Khan welcomed the Governor for gracing the occasion despite his pressing engagements. He also thanked the participants and all those who have contributed in making the event a success. He also requested the governor who is the Chancellor of the university to help in modernization of laboratories of the centre especially in provision of Satellite Weather Radar System at the campus. Earlier, the Governor went round the various stalls and appreciated the quality and spirit of the exhibitors.
