NDMA concludes two-day climate dialogue with push for ‘act before disaster’ strategy

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday concluded the two-day 2nd National Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action at its headquarters in Islamabad, where around 200 participants from government institutions

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th May, 2026) The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Tuesday concluded the two-day 2nd National Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action at its headquarters in Islamabad, where around 200 participants from government institutions, UN agencies, humanitarian organisations, academia, climate experts and the private sector discussed strategies to strengthen Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and climate resilience framework against growing climate-induced threats.

Organised under the National Coordination Forum on Anticipatory Action in collaboration with the food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme, Pakistan Red Crescent Society, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Welthungerhilfe, the dialogue focused on institutionalising anticipatory action within national and provincial disaster management systems.

Participants highlighted the increasing risks posed by floods, heatwaves, droughts, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and disease outbreaks, stressing that timely early warning systems, forecast-based interventions and coordinated preparedness measures were essential to reducing humanitarian losses and protecting livelihoods.

Addressing the concluding session, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said anticipatory action had become a necessity for Pakistan in view of escalating climate risks and recurring natural disasters.

He emphasised the need for stronger institutional coordination, data-driven decision-making, improved last-mile delivery of early warnings, and community-based preparedness mechanisms to build national resilience.

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Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme in Pakistan, Thomas Conan, praised NDMA’s leadership in advancing anticipatory action and reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to supporting national and provincial authorities in strengthening early warning systems, risk communication, and pre-arranged disaster financing mechanisms.

The two day forum featured five plenary sessions and two breakout discussions where participants reviewed lessons learned from previous anticipatory action initiatives and explored ways to expand preparedness frameworks for multiple hazards.

Key recommendations included improving climate and risk information systems, harmonising triggers for early action, integrating anticipatory action with social protection and disaster risk financing mechanisms, strengthening local capacities, and promoting sustainable financing through climate funds and public investment.

The participants also stressed the importance of stronger collaboration among government institutions, humanitarian organisations, scientific bodies, media, academia and local communities to ensure effective implementation of anticipatory measures at all levels.

The dialogue concluded with a collective commitment to develop a coordinated national roadmap for anticipatory action under the National Coordination Forum on Anticipatory Action to strengthen Pakistan’s preparedness and resilience against future climate emergencies.