National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy provides an overall guiding framework for addressing the high levels of disaster risk in Pakistan. It covers both natural and man-made hazards and it seeks to promote priority measures to ameliorate already existing vulnerability to hazards, and equally important measures to ensure future development processes and programmes strengthen resilience. The policy promotes priority measures to ameliorate existing vulnerabilities to hazards and ensure that future development initiatives add resilience. The policy also seeks to provide guideline for timely, dedicated and adequate investment on hazard mitigation and preparedness interventions at all levels which will not only substantially reduce the disaster risk but also the consequential damages and economic cost associated with response, recovery and rehabilitation. The vision statement emphasizes the urgency of strengthening adaptive and coping capacity against the dynamic nature of hazards, vulnerabilities and risks within the wider context of a changing society and a changing climate.
The coverage of the Policy is national. The specific objectives are: a) creating an integrated national capacity to identify and monitor vulnerability and hazard trends including potential climate change impact; b) creating Multi-Hazard Early Warning capacity while building upon existing systems and emphasizing the information and warning needs of vulnerable end-users; c) strengthening an integrated disaster preparedness and response capacity from the local to the national level; d) promoting development planning that considers and addresses disaster risks alongside environmental and climate change concerns; e) strengthening the structural and non-structural resilience of key infrastructure and lifelines in Pakistan; f) strengthening capacity at national and provincial levels to facilitate and provide support to the implementation of DRR policies, plans and programmes across sectors and in high-risk areas; g) strengthening Local Level Risk Reduction capacity focusing upon communities, and supportive linkages with Union Councils, tehsils and districts; h) ensuring DRR is systematically integrated into recovery and reconstruction programming, and informing DRR mainstreaming in general.
Particular attention is given to find sustainable solutions for poor communities inhabiting areas that are deemed unsafe. Risk Assessment elements shall be incorporated into Environmental and Social Impact Analysis. An important role in human resource development is to be played by the National Institute of Disaster Management as the nodal training, research and education institution. DRR education in schools and colleges shall be promoted. The policy also encourages the elaboration of specific programmes to increase financial resilience of farmers, herders and agricultural financing institutions to adverse natural hazards.
The policy adopts a multi-hazard approach and provides for measures both structural and non structural. Chapter 3 defines the policy interventions, which embrace risk knowledge, prevention and mitigation and preparedeness. Chapter 4 defines the implementation framework, which includes operationalizing through plans, and provides for a community based disaster risk management.