{"id":18181,"date":"2023-03-03T18:07:29","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T10:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sar-climate.adpc.net\/?p=18181"},"modified":"2023-08-14T17:49:21","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T09:49:21","slug":"how-is-extreme-weather-reshaping-pakistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sar-climate.adpc.net\/index.php\/2023\/03\/03\/how-is-extreme-weather-reshaping-pakistan\/","title":{"rendered":"How is Extreme Weather Reshaping Pakistan?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Lieutenant-General (Retired) Nadeem Ahmed is the former Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)<\/strong><\/span>. Pakistan, who led the relief and response operation during the 2010 floods. He was also instrumental in establishing Pakistan\u2019s National Disaster Management Fund (NDRMF).<\/a><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

How do you compare the 2022 and 2010 Pakistan floods?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In 2010, the affected people amounted to 20 million, and the amount of relief we got from the international community for relief was US $1.9 billion.<\/a><\/p>\n

We reacted quickly, and we were able to not only save lives but also provide all the necessary assistance to the flood-impacted areas quickly.<\/a><\/p>\n

But this time, the affected population was 33 million, far more than the 2010 floods. In 2010 when we had an appeal of US $1.9 billion, we got US $1.6 billion, so the response was quick. But, unfortunately, 2022 was far worse, and there were not enough responders.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What do you believe caused the delay this time when compared to 2010?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]At the government level, a flood of this magnitude was never expected. Glacial melt, precipitation, and the hill torrents, all put together, actually created havoc we didn’t see in 2010.<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2010, three waves of flooding started from the North and slowly went through the South of Pakistan, so we could move our response accordingly.<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2022, it came about all over Pakistan all-of-a-sudden and in a very big way! Therefore, the reaction time, when compared to the 2010 flood, was very little.<\/a><\/p>\n

Although a flash appeal was launched, the government put in its best efforts, the magnitude is so colossal that it would be difficult for any government in the world to tackle it quickly.<\/a><\/p>\n

The second issue I wish to highlight here is that the 2010 flood was, at that time, the biggest disaster that Pakistan faced. Therefore, we had come up with certain recommendations which were made to the government, especially in enhancing the capacities at the district and provincial level and also the stakeholders.<\/a><\/p>\n

However, capacities seem to remain at the same levels we had in 2010. International support is, of course, far less when compared to 2010 as well.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Do you think that Pakistan is ready to deal with such catastrophic events in the future?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I think after the 2005 earthquake and 2010 floods, Pakistan did take some steps. For example, we created the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and a dedicated Ministry of Climate Change, which have issued their plans.<\/a><\/p>\n

We also created the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF). I had the unique honor of raising that Fund from scratch, which provided 70 percent grant money for both public sector and non-profit sector organizations willing to undertake risk reduction and climate adaptation projects.<\/a><\/p>\n

We have more than US $450 billion with us. We funded the infrastructure projects for flood protection, school resilience, and health resilience and trained the communities on disaster risk management.<\/a><\/p>\n

We were also one of the lead agencies providing US $50 million in assistance to the Government of Pakistan for COVID-19 management.<\/a><\/p>\n

So, things have moved, but the implementation seems to be slow and laborious. We have to be more proactive rather than reactive. We have to take climate-induced disasters and earthquakes seriously.<\/a><\/p>\n

We have two benchmarks available \u2013 the 2022 floods and the 2005 earthquake.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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We have to take climate-induced disasters and earthquakes seriously.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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What lessons did Pakistan learn from the 2010 flood, and how closely did this shape its planning?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The roles of Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) should increase \u2013 they can also coordinate and provide guidance on how to make disaster-resilient infrastructure.<\/a><\/p>\n

They have that capacity, but those capacities need to be built up. Whenever the Planning and Development Departments of the provinces sit down to develop their annual plans, PDMAs and DDMAs should have a say.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Do you think that Pakistan has vibrant institutions that can implement such big projects?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As of now, both the PDMAs and DDMAs are response-centric, and when something happens, they coordinate relief efforts. But that’s not their only role as far as the law is concerned.<\/a><\/p>\n

They’re also supposed to do risk reduction and climate change adaptation. We have an Environment Directorate in every province, and I think both PDMAs and Environmental Directorates must be merged and capacitated.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Could you elaborate more on the roles of DDMAs?<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]DDMAs were set up in all the districts that were considered vulnerable to any kind of disaster. As a result, quite a number of DDMAs are on the ground and taking a lead role in their respective districts regarding response.<\/a><\/p>\n

However, we need to move away from response to become more proactive than reactive and work towards risk reduction and climate adaptation. No district is safe so all must have DDMAs.<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nadeem Ahmed spoke with ADPC as part of its ‘Climate Talks’ panel discussions.<\/i><\/p>\n

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