The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan, led by its chairman, participated in the 18th Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday.
This two-day RCC meeting is jointly hosted by Thailand and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). The RCC serves as a regional platform to foster dialogue and cooperation in managing disaster risks and addressing climate change challenges across Asia and the Pacific.
The theme for this year’s RCC meeting, “Sustainable Anticipatory Actions for Resilient Development Goals,” aligns closely with NDMA Pakistan’s proactive approach to disaster risk management. By leveraging advanced technologies, the authority aims to anticipate potential disasters and implement measures to minimize losses effectively.
NDMA Chairman, Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, attended the meeting as a keynote speaker during a technical session focused on “Financial Mechanisms and Investments – Climate Finance, Investment for Resilience Building, and Disaster Risk Finance.”
During his address, the chairman discussed the severe impacts of climate change in the Asia-Pacific region and Pakistan, including rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and water-related crises that threaten regional socio-economic development.
He emphasized the importance of creating robust financial mechanisms to ensure sufficient resources are available for countries most affected by climate change. These resources, he noted, are critical for implementing disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) strategies.
Lt. Gen. Malik also detailed NDMA Pakistan’s ongoing initiatives to strengthen resilience and adaptation. These efforts include establishing an advanced AI-driven National Emergencies Operations Center (NEOC), fostering technology-based international collaborations, prioritizing access to global funding, and adopting anticipatory action strategies to improve disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities in Pakistan.
Established in 2000, the RCC has evolved into a significant platform under the ADPC’s Charter, promoting regional cooperation and dialogue to address disaster and climate challenges across Asia and the Pacific.
