The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) hosted a two-day consultative session with the United States Disaster Response Group at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), focusing on advancing bilateral collaboration in disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
High-Level Participation
On the opening day, the U.S. delegation was led by Deputy Chief of Mission H.E. Natalie Baker, alongside Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, Commanding Officer of U.S. ARCENT. The second day featured Ivana Vuco, Disaster Expert for Asia, and her team from the U.S. State Department.
NDMA’s Advanced Capabilities Highlighted
Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed participants on NEOC’s advanced early warning systems, risk communication networks, and anticipatory response mechanisms.
He emphasized NDMA’s growing role in international relief and highlighted the Comprehensive International Simulation Exercises (CISE), designed to strengthen regional disaster resilience.
The discussions also covered risk financing through contingency funds and insurance, integrated search-and-rescue operations using modern technology, and the effectiveness of early warning systems that enabled thousands of timely self-evacuations during the 2025 floods.
U.S. Acknowledges NDMA’s Role
Natalie Baker praised NDMA’s innovative disaster management framework, noting that its proactive use of technology and partnerships through CISE “serve as a model for regional resilience.”
She reaffirmed U.S. support for Pakistan’s relief and recovery efforts, particularly during the devastating 2025 floods, through logistical assistance, technical expertise, and humanitarian aid.
Lieutenant General Patrick Frank commended NDMA’s proactive approach, underscoring NEOC’s role in mitigating disaster risks and improving joint response mechanisms.
Shared Commitment to Regional Resilience
An interactive consultative session allowed experts from both sides to share best practices, align technological tools, and streamline response protocols.
Both Pakistan and the U.S. reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and expand participation in CISE, with the shared goal of building resilience against intensifying climate-related challenges in the region.