1. A S ITUATION A NALYSIS OF U RBAN D ISASTER R ISK M ANAGEMENT : A STUDY OF 6 CITIES IN PAKISTAN Pakistan Urban Forum 11 Jan 2014

2. B ACKGROUND The purpose of the Study was to develop a situation analysis of Urban Disaster Risk Management (DRM) with reference to achieving the objectives of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) in selected urban areas of Pakistan – Karachi, Quetta, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Gilgit.

3. O BJECTIVES OF THE S TUDY Review the nature and scale of past urban disasters in key urban settlements Identify potential threats in light of climatic changes; Assess the existing level of preparedness Understand the role of different agencies or institutions Review the urban contingency plans and urban disaster management policy frameworks Develop strategic objectives and indicators for future initiatives with urban communities that contribute to HFA priorities for action

4. S TUDY M ETHODOLOGY Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) was studied and analyzed for its applicability to Pakistan Basic research tools developed – a questionnaire and a checklist to garner the necessary information Visits to these urban centers – interviews with key informants (including government agencies like NDMA, PMD, PDMAs, P&DDs, DDMAs, DCO Offices, City Development Authorities, selected civil society representatives and researchers)

5. M AIN F INDINGS Little awareness of DRM amongst communities – possibly with the exception of Gilgit Apart from the staff at NDMA, and to a lesser extent, the PDMAs, there is little or no awareness of HFA, even at the level of DDMAs. Reactive Management of Disaster – emergency response paradigm – New culture of disaster preparedness and management needs – from policy and legal frameworks, to risk assessments and planning and percolating down to the communities and educational institutions

6. M AIN F INDINGS …… Lack of Coordination – Operational mechanisms are ambiguous (roles within and between organizations working in DRR-M, information flow, overlapping responsibilities) Lack of a Multi-hazard Vulnerability Assessment Lack of clarity and matter of debate if not confusion – What impact has the 18 th amendment has on relationships between different tiers of DMAs?

7. M AIN F INDINGS …… Planning for Hazards and Disasters between government and NGOs – only in Gilgit, not institutionalized, approachability of concerned government officials People in cities like Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta are too concerned about terrorism to think about other disasters Building codes do exist – Obsolete and Poorly enforced (earthquake resistant buildings in Gilgit)

8. M AIN F INDINGS …… Ambiguity about whether the Development Plan exists (esp for smaller cities like Gilgit) Funding for plans is mostly external and not assured through the government budgets (Disaster Management Plans (DMP) by PDMAs funded by UNDP through a one-time project City district governments are responsible for the DRM at the local level but the provincial governments have not devolved their powers yet and disseminate funds without consultation with district

9. R ECOMMENDATIONS : HFA FRAMEWORK HFA Priority 1 – Make Disaster Risk Reduction a Priority Have competent and accountable urban and local governance in place, including mechanisms for disaster risk reduction, based on a participatory dialogue between city governments and civil society Have an assigned city budget for disaster risk reduction – with provisions for finance and technical cooperation enabling low- income families to reduce risks and strengthen resilience through effective social safety nets Have proactive policies and strategies to provide safe land for low- income citizens HFA Priority 2 – Know the Risks and Take Action Have a comprehensive risk assessment constantly updated and used as basis for urban development plans and early warning system, and easily available and understood by the public HFA Priority 3 – Build Understanding and Awareness Have education programmes on disaster risk reduction in place in schools and local communities

10. R ECOMMENDATIONS : HFA FRAMEWORK … HFA Priority 4 – Reduce Risk Invest in risk-reducing infrastructure, such as flood drainage in high risk areas, and put in place management systems with local communities to ensure their maintenance. Make and implement risk compliant building regulations and land use planning norms appropriate to the needs and possibilities of low income citizens Have all schools and health facilities and other critical facilities assessed and upgraded as necessary to withstand major hazards, and develop plans for recovering and protecting heritage buildings and sites Have plans and regulations in place to protect ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate floods and and other hazards, and ensure that climate change adaptation initiatives builds on risk reduction practices HFA Priority 5 – Be Prepared and Ready to Act Have early warning and emergency management capacities in place, with locally owned preparedness plans known and regular public drills

11. O THER R ECOMMENDATIONS Media need to be involved in raising awareness – a media campaign for awareness and sensitization around increasing frequency of extreme events induced by climate change A Window of Opportunity - with revival of local bodies, city district governments about to be elected – increase their level of awareness and sensitization as well as training and capacity building to seed a process of institutional DRM at the local/city level The Government has to provide dedicated staff and resources for urban risk management at the Tehsil (sub-district) level, especially for coordination and information management

12. O THER R ECOMMENDATIONS …. All the necessary data should be collected, collated and analyzed periodically – from an inventory of critical infrastructure to rescue instruments and relief supplies and multiple risk assessments to mitigation measures DRR plans for each city should be prepared and integrated with other relevant plans, like land use and development plans. At the moment such integration doesn’t exist at all.

13. O THER R ECOMMENDATIONS …. Insurance and financial services for risk transfer need to be developed to facilitate urban risk management Community trainings are being carried out in some places – especially in Gilgit - but there needs to be a volunteer citizens' group that should be trained Key elements of DRR-M should be incorporated in school curricula. Given that it takes time to do so (design and approval of the curriculum, development of new text books and their publication) work on it should start on an urgent basis.

14. Thank you