National Disaster Management Authority (Pakistan)

National Disaster Management Authority (Urdu: قومی آفات بندوبستی مختار‎, abbreviated as NDMA), is an autonomous and constitutionally established federal authority mandated to deal with whole spectrum of disasters and their management in the country.[1]

Not to be confused with National Disaster Management Authority (India).
Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority
NDMA
Agency overview
FormedAugust 17, 2007 (2007-08-17)
Preceding
JurisdictionConstitution of Pakistan
HeadquartersIslamabad
Agency executive
Websitewww.ndma.gov.pk

The NDMA formulate and enforces national disaster policies at federal and provisional levels and collaborates closely with various government ministries, military forces, and United Nations-based organizations to jointly coordinate efforts to conduct its disaster management, search and rescue, and wide range of humanitarian operations in the country and abroad. The NDMA aims to develop sustainable operational capacity and professional competence to undertake its humanitarian operations at its full capacity.[1]

Legislative History

Operational scope and constitutional definition

The functions and duties are defined and set by the Constitution of Pakistan in Article 239I in Chapter1. The Commission charged with the following duties:

  1. To act as the implementing, coordinating and monitoring body for disaster management;[3]
  2. To prepare the National Plan to be approved and implement, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the National policy;[3]
  3. To provide necessary technical assistance to the Provincial Governments and the Provincial Authorities for preparing their disaster management plans in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Commission;[3]
  4. To coordinate response in the event of any threatening disaster situation or disaster[3]

The President may, except when the [Senate or] National Assembly is in session, if satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action, make and promulgate an Ordinance, as the circumstances may require.

— Article 81(1): Ordinances; Part-III, Chapter:2 The Parliament, source: The Constitution of Pakistan[4]

Chairman

Codified under the Article 89(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, the institution is chaired by the appointed chairman, either civilian or military officer, and directly reports to the Prime Minister of Pakistan as its chief operations coordinator. As of present, the institution is currently chaired by Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal of Pakistan Army as its appointed chairman.[5]

ChairmanTerm StartTerm End
Lt Gen Farooq Ahmed Khan20062010
Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed20102011
Dr Zafar Iqbal20112013
Maj Gen Saeed Alam20132015
Maj Gen Asghar Nawaz20152017
Lt Gen Omar Mehmood Hayat20172019
Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal2019Present[5]

Nepal earthquake relief controversy

The National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan sent aid and personnel to Nepal after the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. Four Lockheed C-130 planes with a 30-bed hospital, 2,000 military meals, 600 blankets, 200 tents, and other assorted relief items. Military emergency personnel including army doctors, medical staff and National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan's special search and rescue teams with sniffer dogs. The supplies sent by Pakistan to Nepal included beef masala, which created controversy because Nepal is a Hindu majority country where cattle are revered and cow slaughter is banned.[6]

See also

References
  1. Profile and mission of National Disaster Management Authority, Retrieved 29 June 2017
  2. 2006 Document on ndma.gov.pk website, Retrieved 29 June 2017
  3. National disaster management system in Pakistan, 2010 Document on ndma.gov.pk website, Published 17 March 2010, Retrieved 29 June 2017
  4. "Chapter 2: Parliament, Constitution of Pakistan ONLINE". pakistani.org website. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  5. Profile of General Muhammad Afzal, Chairman of NDMA in 2019 on ndma.gov.pk website, Retrieved 29 June 2017
  6. Pakistan Denies Sending Beef Products to Nepal Earthquake Survivors
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