Islamabad, 18 March 2022 (TDI): The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday to collaborate in various areas of disaster risk management.

In the presence of Chairman PRCS, Abrar ul Haq and Chairman NDMA, Akhtar Nawaz, the MoU was signed. At a ceremony conducted today at the NDMA headquarters, PRCS Secretary-General, Adeel Nawaz and NDMA member-DRR, Muhammad Idrees Mehsud signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.

Support in dealing with disasters at all stages and other emergency circumstances will be provided through preparedness, mitigation, community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR), and relief/rehabilitation.

Chairman NDMA, Akhtar Nawaz, spoke at the event and praised PRCS for its participation in disaster management, particularly during the recent COVID-19 epidemic. He believed that working with PRCS will aid in the development of a long-term response strategy in the event of a disaster in the country.

The partnership agreement will establish a broad framework for cooperation between the two organizations in areas such as Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and collaboration in responding to disasters and other emergency situations in the country by focusing on preparedness, mitigation, risk reduction, relief, and rehabilitation.

Abrar ul Haq, speaking at the ceremony, stated that both organizations will collaborate to develop a culture of disaster risk management prevention, mitigation, and improved and enhanced coordination among key stakeholders like Disaster Risk Management (DRM). 

“The collaboration between PRCS and NDMA on Community-Based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) would not only support disaster-stricken areas in a systematic manner, but it will also make service delivery faster and more efficient.”

Abrar ul Haq, Chairman of PRCS, praised the NDMA’s efforts in disaster management and emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation and creating synergies in disaster management.