The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) hosted a Media Coordination Conference at its Islamabad headquarters, aiming to strengthen disaster preparedness through effective and responsible crisis communication. The event was part of NDMA’s ongoing Risk Communication Forum initiative designed to ensure timely dissemination of early warnings and advisories to communities nationwide.
Opening the session, Air Commodore (Retired) Umar Naeem, Executive Director of the Regional Military & Media Wing of NDMA, emphasized the necessity of synchronized and coordinated messaging as crucial in reducing the adverse impacts of disasters. He underlined the critical role media and communication experts play in proactively addressing crises, reducing community vulnerability, and providing accurate information swiftly during emergencies.
The conference gathered essential stakeholders from diverse sectors, including representatives from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Rescue 1122, mobile network operators, and humanitarian organizations. Participants reviewed detailed hydro-meteorological analyses and forecasts developed by the National Emergency Operations Centre’s (NEOC) technical team, covering anticipated monsoon risks for various regions in the coming months.
Ms. Sara Malik, Deputy Director Media at NDMA, briefed attendees on the authority’s national media strategies, highlighting approaches for timely alert dissemination and proactive measures to counter misinformation that often spreads during crises. Discussions further focused on improving messaging practices by engaging local media, community influencers, and employing cutting-edge digital tools such as AI-based platforms, chatbots, and geo-tagged SMS alerts.
Participants also explored challenges faced by provincial representatives and local media personnel concerning crisis communication. Sharing their firsthand experiences, media representatives and Provincial Public Relations Officers illustrated local-level strategies and best practices for effective and immediate dissemination of accurate information to communities during disasters.
The conference concluded with a agreement to facilitate provincial-level media workshops and joint training sessions for provincial public relation officers and journalists. These training initiatives will aim to enhance skills in responsible digital communication, crisis reporting accuracy, and responsiveness during emergencies.
In its closing statements, NDMA reaffirmed its continued commitment to promoting integrated, technology-enabled communications through strengthened collaboration with stakeholders. The emphasis remained firmly on building national resilience and reducing disaster risks through well-coordinated, credible, and transparent communication mechanisms.
