COMSATS signs letter of Agreement with NIDM-Pakistan
Islamabad - April 4,
2024: In a collaborative endeavor aimed at enhancing climate resilience and
fostering sustainable solutions for disaster management using innovative
technology, the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable
Development in the South (COMSATS) and the National Institute of Disaster
Management, Pakistan (NIDM), formalized the signing of a Letter of Agreement
(LOA) on April 4, 2024, in Islamabad.
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The Letter of Agreement
(LOA) delineates an initiative focused on cooperation, coordination, and
resource mobilization across all facets of disaster management, with a specific
emphasis on mitigating the vulnerability of communities affected by climate
change and natural disasters. By leveraging the collective expertise and
resources of both organizations, the partnership seeks to integrate climate
considerations into their respective activities and operations, offering tools,
assessment methodologies, and information resources to support decision-makers.
This includes joint research, knowledge sharing, technology transfer, capacity
building initiatives, and advocacy efforts across various sectors such as
ecosystem management, health, agriculture, and water resources to enhance
climate resilience.
Ambassador Dr. Mohammad
Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, and M. Tanveer Paracha, Chief
Coordinator of NIDM, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective
organizations. The collaboration will focus on the exchange of knowledge and
data to strengthen climate resilience, alongside advocacy and policy
development to raise awareness and shape effective frameworks for climate adaptation
and disaster management. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to
building a more resilient future for communities in Pakistan and beyond.
COMSATS is known for its
capacity building activities, collaborative research and development projects,
and technological solutions aimed at addressing various challenges and
delivering public services. It explores ventures in AI applications, precision
agriculture, food security, telehealth, drone technology, electric vehicles,
among others. Additionally, COMSATS holds observer status with UNFCCC and has
an exclusive Directorate, COMSATS Centre for Climate and Sustainability, with
membership of 25 Climate and Environmental Institutions.
Meanwhile, NIDM-Pakistan
operates as a research-based think tank under the National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA). It provides policy advice and facilitates capacity building
services, including research, training, system development, and expertise
promotion for effective disaster preparedness and mitigation.