Lahore: Officers from the Specialized Training Program visited the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab to gain insights into disaster management systems, focusing on pre-flood and post-flood measures. The event was attended by Khawaja Salman Rafique, the Provincial Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Management, along with PDMA Director General Muhammad Saif Anwer Jappa. The delegation, which included officers from various services such as the Pakistan Administrative Service, Foreign Service, and Police Service of Pakistan, also visited the PDMA control room to review the monitoring system.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, Khawaja Salman Rafique highlighted Pakistan’s climate change challenges and the Punjab government’s proactive measures to protect the public during emergencies. He recalled that during the “super floods” affecting three rivers last year, the government, under directives from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, compensated citizens with approximately 50 billion rupees for their losses.

Director General Muhammad Saif Anwer Jappa stated that PDMA is on high alert to address challenges such as floods, COVID-19, dengue, drought, smog, and heatwaves in line with the Chief Minister’s directives. He emphasized constant communication with districts through the provincial control room and the issuance of early warnings and alerts. Mitigating the effects of climate change remains a top priority for PDMA. Additional officials, including Additional Director General Mutahir Amin and Director of Operations Nisar Sani, were present.