ISLAMABAD: The Asia-Pacific meeting of International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), hosted by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as its regional chair, opened in Islamabad on Monday.
The opening session was inaugurated by NDMA Chairman Lt General Inam Haider Malik, INSARAG Global Lead Winston Chang, UN Resident Coordinator, Mohamed Yahya. The conference agenda included discussions on the global and regional work plans for 2024, followed by governance review consultations among stakeholders, global meeting, Accountability and Compliance and Classification as well as Global Strategy 2026-2030, NGOs and Partners and Localisation.
Chairman NDMA emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing its disaster management systems, improving early warning mechanisms and building capacity for rapid response. He further highlighted the importance of INSARAG’s mandate and stated that INSARAG’s mandate of promoting cooperation, coordination, and standardization in search and rescue efforts across the globe remains vital.
He said that NDMA had proposed a strategic initiative to unify disaster response efforts within the country, ensuring a cohesive and robust approach to disaster management.
The conference is being attended by 55 delegations from China, Russia, Australia, South Korea, Turkiye, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Bangladesh, Nepal and global networking and humanitarian organisations.
The other participants included representatives government departments, country directors of UN organisations in Pakistan, representatives of NGOs and INGOs and media persons.
The conference will continue until Tuesday at the Marriott Hotel. This year, on 17 January, NDMA assumed the chair of INSARAG, reinforcing its leadership role in regional disaster management efforts.
INSARAG is a global network dedicated to enhancing international disaster response, strengthening preparedness through Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) practices.
INSARAG sets global standards to ensure teams are fully equipped for action during disasters.
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