BRI’s CPEC registered progress in all sectors despite Covid: NDMA chief

Gwadar Pro

Islamabad: Chairman Pakistani National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Akhtar Nawaz has said that under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had registered progress in all areas despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Nawaz represented Pakistan at the BRI Ministerial Forum for International Cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Emergency Management conference. The Forum was organized by Ministry of Emergency Management of China and held online.

In his remarks, the NDMA Chairman highlighted that CPEC had further enhanced the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries.

Cognizant of the need to strengthen Disaster Risk Management system and mechanism to protect economic and social development, the NDMA Chairman emphasized the government of Pakistan’s initiative to establish a dedicated and comprehensive disaster management system allowing tackling of disaster related issues in a holistic manner, said an official statement.

He reiterated the need to enhance international cooperation through strengthening capacities, capitalizing on the work done by individual countries, and by adopting an inclusive approach.

In addition to Pakistan and China it was attended by Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management from Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Mozambique, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Turkey. Representatives from UN Agencies and humanitarian organizations also participated.

Participating countries at the Forum adopted the Beijing Declaration with consensus on promoting cooperation in resilience and disaster risk reduction and management.