Islamabad: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) played host to prominent parliamentary delegations from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan at the National Emergencies Operations Center (NEOC) in Islamabad today. These high-profile visits showcased the increasing regional cooperation in disaster preparedness and risk management.

Uzbekistan’s delegation, led by H.E. Mr. Nuriddin Ismoilov, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber, and featuring notable committee members like Mr. Maksudbek Kurbonboyev and Mr. Bakhtiyor Pulatov, engaged with NDMA officials to gain insights into Pakistan’s disaster response strategies. Concurrently, a 20-member delegation from Kazakhstan, headed by Mr. Gizet Nurdauletov and accompanied by Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin, participated in detailed briefings on technological integration and coordination frameworks in disaster management.

Chairman NDMA, Lt General Inam Haider Malik, highlighted the authority’s strategic role in disaster risk reduction and the use of innovative tools such as the National Common Operating Picture (NCOP) and Global Common Operating Picture (GCOP). The discussions emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing resilience and preparedness, particularly in flood-affected regions, through effective risk communication and early warning systems.

The delegations from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan lauded NDMA’s efforts in building resilience and implementing modern disaster preparedness techniques. Both sides acknowledged the critical importance of fostering bilateral and regional collaboration in disaster risk management, capacity enhancement, and expertise exchange.

These engagements underscore a growing sense of regional unity among Central Asian nations and Pakistan in tackling the shared challenges posed by natural disasters and climate changes through mutual cooperation and support.