'NDMA exhibition close with positive note'.

ISLAMABAD, October 11, 2009 (Frontier Star): To commemorate 8th October as National Disaster Awareness Day in a befitting manner, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) organized a wide range of national and international activities with the purpose to create awareness among policy makers, Civil Society Organizations and general masses. The second National Disaster Management Exhibition was one of the a large scale public awareness activity inaugurated by Minister of state for foreign affairs Nawabzada Malik Amaad Ahmed Khan on 8th of October in Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad. More than 100 local and international exhibitors participated in exhibition. Local and international groups and companies are showcased their latest technologies, equipments, materials and services for disaster management. Among the exhibitors are leading brands of ambulances, bulletproof cars, fire fighting equipments, health and safety products, policing and anti terrorism equipments ,surveillance systems and state of the art security and safer construction services. In simulation exercise recently raised Urban Search and Rescue Teams displayed their skills of evacuating the survivors from collapsed structures. These teams are equipped with latest high tech tools and gadgets used for search and rescue operations, along with canine (search dogs) arrangement. A number of Donor agencies, INGOs, NGOs, Government Departments and UN agencies also displayed their contributions in the field of disaster management. A Karachi based company SARG is organised this mega event. On the sidelines of the conference and exhibition a SAARC regional workshop on "EARTH QUAKE RISK MITIGATION" hosted by Pakistan (NDMA) to highlight the importance of the policy of mitigation and preparedness in disaster management. At the end of the last day of exhibition Shoukat Nawaz Tahir, Senior Member NDMA awarded shields to all the exhibitors and media person covering the event. In the closing ceremony senior officials of PRCS, Rescue 1122 , CDA and Civil Society organizations were present. General public especially students of colleges and universities showed keen interest in the exhibition. A large number of official of public and private institutions visited the exhibition and appreciated the activities organized by NDMA for public awareness and acknowledged that preparedness and disaster risk reduction are the only ways to face the increased frequency of disasters in Pakistan.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)