ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has successfully wrapped up a $3.7 million initiative aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness and response in Pakistan’s coastal areas, focusing on reducing tsunami risks and mitigating their impact on coastal communities.
The project, titled “Strengthening Tsunami and Earthquake Preparedness in Coastal Areas of Pakistan,” was completed in collaboration with the Economic Affairs Division and the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) in Sindh and Balochistan, with support from Japan.
This initiative has significantly bolstered disaster readiness and resilience in the coastal communities of Malir and Keamari in Sindh and Gwadar in Balochistan. Key achievements include the revision of earthquake and tsunami preparedness guidelines, enhancement of disaster response systems, and increased preparedness capacity among vulnerable coastal populations. The project also emphasized gender equity in its approach to disaster risk reduction.
At the project’s closing ceremony on Friday, UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Dr. Samuel Rizk highlighted that while the project has concluded, the empowered and resilient communities and institutions it has fostered will continue to have a positive impact.
Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Mitsuhiro Wada, noted that Japan’s experience with frequent natural disasters has provided valuable insights into climate and disaster risk management, which were instrumental in supporting this project.
