Three-day expo on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 kicks off in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: A three-day event focusing on disaster risk reduction began in Islamabad on Tuesday, bringing together officials, experts and stakeholders to discuss how Pakistan can better prepare for natural disasters and the impacts of climate change.

Titled Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, the event is being held to develop a five-year national policy aimed at improving the country’s ability to manage climate-related challenges, including floods, water shortages and glacier melt.

Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, said during the opening session that the effects of climate change are becoming more visible and alarming across the country.

“Glaciers in Pakistan are melting rapidly, which is contributing to a rise in sea levels,” he said. “The devastating floods we’ve witnessed in recent years have not only taken lives but also caused financial losses worth billions of dollars.”

He added that water scarcity is another growing concern, warning that Pakistan is now among the countries most at risk of running out of water in the near future.

The NDMA chairman said the expo provides an opportunity to bring all relevant institutions together to draw up a coordinated plan for risk reduction, early warning systems and better disaster preparedness.

The event features panel discussions, technical sessions and exhibitions aimed at encouraging collaboration between the government, private sector, and development organisations to build a more disaster-resilient Pakistan.

Read next: PSX opens strong as KSE-100 surges over 900 points