LAHORE Sept 10 (TNS): The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is a comprehensive endeavor towards combating natural or man-induced disasters at the Provincial and Local level and securing lives and livelihoods of the affected people.
Constituted under the NDM Act (National Disaster Management Act) in 2010, PDMA specializes in mitigation, preparedness and an organized response to a disaster. The most important role of PDMA lies in providing a platform for all provincial departments to come together and strategize management and response to disasters and calamities.
PDMA also acts as the coordinating authority, which articulates the coordination mechanism between key provincial departments including Rescue 1122, Civil Defense, District Governments and Police for immediate rescue and rehabilitation operations.
In case of a disaster, PDMA not only oversees search, rescue and evacuation of the affected people, but also takes concrete measures to provide immediate relief, early recovery and long-term rehabilitation to them. In case of emergencies, the PDMA works closely with District Governments to organize initial and subsequent assessment of disaster affected areas, and determine the course of action to ensure long-term rehabilitation of the affected population.
PDMA operates to ensure timely and effective response to disasters.
For the rehabilitation of more than 3 lakh and 50 thousand flood stricken people in Punjab Rs16 billion were given by the chief minister of Punjab Shehbaz Sharif in 2014. One big rescue and relief operation was arranged for the flood affected people in which Pak army, rescue workers, doctors, nurses, provincial secretaries and non-governmental organizations participated fully.
Rs100 million grants were initiated for every affected district. Rs1.6 million was given for the relatives of each deceased person who lost lives in flood incidents. To calculate the loss of flood affected areas cutting edge technology was used and to document the losses web portal was formed.
In the first phase Rs25000 were given to every affected family in first installment. And in second phase Rs40000 were given. For complete destructed houses Rs80000 were given as a financial aid. For the destruction of crop field Rs10000 per acre land was paid by the Punjab government. Under the Rozgar support program Rs10000 were given to each flood affected poor families.
For the earth quake affected people in Baluchistan, Punjab government sent the relief stuffs and medicines worth Rs149.72 million on daily basis to the affected districts. Punjab government sent 73964 food hampers and 6802 sacks of flour of 10 kg at the total cost of Rs58.5 million.
10280 tents, medicines worth 3.75 million, 4202 blankets, 29976 mineral bottles, 26254 juice packs, and 6130 bottles of 1 liter milk were sent from Punjab. Under Eid package Rs193 million worth relief things were sent and 25000 gifts were also sent.
Under winter package 100 trucks full of winter stuff worth Rs92 million were dispatched.
Ministers and members of assembly gave their one month salary to the affected people. Collectively Punjab government gave Rs210 million charity fund to the affected people from the Prime Minister Relief Fund.
For the Internally displaced people (IDPs) in KPK Punjab government established a Chief Minister Relief Fund.
On behalf of the Chief Minister Punjab, provincial ministers, and members assembly donated their one month salary to the IDPs. 4000 tents, 20000 sacks of flour, 14000 sacks of rice, and 20000 food hampers, were given. An advance hospital, technical institutions and women college were established in South Waziristan on behalf of the Punjab government. Stitching machines were provided to the affected women. Eid gifts were distributed among IDPs at the cost of Rs35 million. 50000 families were given Rs7000 each. In next episode Rs404 million were distributed among 56940 affected families in North Waziristan.
