ASEAN Monitoring Desk Islamabad
Ambassadors His Excellency Ambassador Dato’ Azhar together with envoys of ASEAN missions based in Islamabad undertook a visit to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Headquarters, Islamabad, on 19 Dec 2025, where Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, Chairman NDMA delivered a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan’s disaster management framework and avenues for enhanced regional cooperation.
The visit underscored Pakistan’s extending engagement with ASEAN countries and its commitment to strengthening partnerships for disaster risk reduction and resilience building.
During the visit, Chairman NDMA briefed the distinguished guests on NDMA’s evolving role as the lead national coordinating body for disaster management in Pakistan, highlighting the Authority’s emphasis on preparedness, early warning, and coordinated response mechanisms and present Pakistan and Global Disaster Lens for 2026.
Discussions focused on strengthening mutual collaboration in disaster management through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and joint preparedness initiatives to enhance regional resilience against natural and climate-induced hazards.
Chairman NDMA emphasized the need for establishing a Shared Disaster Portal between Pakistan and ASEAN countries to facilitate real-time data exchange, early warning dissemination, and coordinated response during emergencies.
He also highlighted the importance of technology exchange in disaster management, noting that the integration of innovative tools and digital platforms plays a critical role in effective disaster risk reduction and response.
Presenting NDMA’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Disaster Management, Chairman NDMA offered it as a collaborative hub for ASEAN member states for joint training programs, specialized courses, and simulation exercises.
He stated that the CoE would provide tailored training modules for ASEAN countries, promoting standardized approaches to disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and emergency response across the region.
The meeting concluded with a shared understanding to further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and ASEAN countries in the field of disaster management, reaffirming the collective commitment to enhancing preparedness, resilience, and coordinated response through sustained institutional collaboration.
