1. Natural Disasters
A Persistent threat to Human Security in
Pakistan
Taimur Shan
“Threats and Conflicts: Human Security in the 21st
Century”
A Public Conference
April 23, 2015

2. What is a Disaster?
According to International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)
Any event that could lead to a respond beyond the capacity
of a local community is termed as a disaster (Ifrc.org,
2015).

3. When hazard meets
vulnerability

4. What is NOT a Disaster?
Any event occurring beyond our control but not affecting
humans directly or indirectly.

5. Type of Disasters
• Natural Disasters
• Man-made Disasters

6. Pakistan in the light of
Natural and Man-made
disasters

7. Geography

8. Loss Assessment
• Unavailability of latest data to assess human loss.
• No local mechanism for early loss assessment.
• Performed by International organizations at a later stage.
• Time consuming.

9. Disaster Response
• State’s response
• Local Press & Media response

10. Major Natural and Man-
made Disasters in Pakistan
(2005-2015)
Disaster Year Deaths Affected Population
[1] Earthquake
2005 73, 338 2,869, 142
[2] Flood
2010 1, 985 20,202,327
Military Operations (SWAT,
South & North Waziristan)
2007-2014 [3] 52, 000 [4] 3 million

11. Lessons Learnt
• Develop mechanisms at state level for the assessment of
losses.
• Equip Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) with
state-of-the-art
• Capacity building of the National Disaster Management
Authority for early recovery and post disaster
management.
• Build a National Trauma Centre.

12. Conclusion
“Pakistan’s largest city Karachi, home to around 18 million
people, could be “wiped out” by a tsunami. The simulated
drills had shown that in the eventuality of a major
earthquake it could create waves of 0.9 to seven metres high
that could reach and devastate Karachi in a matter of
hours.”