Peshawar: 05 July: Chairman National Disaster Management Authority, Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qadir visited Centre for Disaster Preparedness and Management University of Peshawar. The visit was aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation’s between CDPM and NDMA in the field of Disaster Management. He was accompanied by Member Disaster Risk Reduction NDMA, Mr. Ahmed Kamal and Ms. Zeb-u- Nisa Gandapur, Disaster Risk Management Officer, NDMA.
The visiting delegation was given a formal presentation by Director CDPM Prof. Dr. Amir Nawaz Khan about the academic and other practical work that CDPM is carrying out in the field of disaster preparedness and management. He said that the centre was established in July 2008 and in January 2009 a post graduate diploma started at the centre.
Dr. Nawaz said that the mandate of CDPM is to provide disaster risk reduction education, research and promotion of DRR and to provide policy guidelines to the relevant government bodies about disaster management.
The Director CDPM said, the centre is going to launch BS four year and M.Sc. program in disaster management from next year. The aim of our centre is to produce professional disaster managers, he added.
About the activities of the centre he said that CDPM has organized two international conferences and three National disaster management exhibitions since its establishment to create awareness about disaster management and bring the stakeholder organizations together for sharing their work experiences.
Chairman NDMA praised the good work done by CDPM in disaster management and emphasized the need for more case studies and data analysis in disaster hit areas which will be helpful in doing the need analysis and future strategies for the disaster prone areas and districts. He asked CDPM for development of curriculum for National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). NDMA will also assist CDPM in the capacity building of its faculty members, he concluded. Dr. Zafar Qadir also assured to help CDPM in the establishment of various labs, radar stations and disaster studio.
Replying to questions, Member DRR Ahmed Kamal said that NDMA and PDMA`s around the country have made full preparation for the coming monsoon season to cope with any type of flood situation.
Director CDPM, Prof. Dr. Amir Nawaz later presented souvenir of UoP to Chairman NDMA and member DRR Ahmed Kamal.
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