NDMA Receives PMO Endorsement to Audit Public Infrastructure, Prepare 300-Day Monsoon Plan

PAKISTAN

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has received formal endorsement from the Prime Minister’s Office to implement a nationwide audit of Pakistan’s public infrastructure and to develop a comprehensive 300-day preparedness and response plan for the 2026 monsoon season at both federal and provincial levels.

In line with this mandate, NDMA has been entrusted with reviewing and auditing vulnerable public infrastructure and buildings to strengthen national resilience against floods, earthquakes, and climate-induced disasters. To advance the initiative, NDMA convened the National Seminar on the Infrastructure Audit Program – 2026 at the National Emergencies Operations Center (NEOC) at its headquarters in Islamabad.

During the seminar, NDMA presented the approved concept note outlining the national framework for the Infrastructure Audit Program, marking the official launch of a nationally mandated initiative. The program aims to enhance the safety, resilience, and long-term sustainability of public infrastructure through a preventive and risk-informed approach.

Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada attended the seminar as chief guest. In his address, he noted that Pakistan has suffered heavy human and economic losses due to floods, earthquakes, and climate-related disasters, largely because of vulnerable and inadequately prepared infrastructure. He emphasized the urgent need to move away from reactive, post-disaster responses toward early identification of structural weaknesses and timely mitigation measures.

Commending NDMA for launching the initiative, the minister said the Infrastructure Audit Program represents a paradigm shift from response to prevention and from assumptions to evidence-based decision-making. He added that systematic assessments of infrastructure health would help identify risks in critical buildings, protect public assets, and enable informed planning and investment. He reaffirmed the full support of the Ministry of Housing and Works for the program’s implementation.

Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik said the seminar was aimed at initiating coordinated nationwide implementation of the Infrastructure Audit Program – 2026 by bringing federal and provincial stakeholders onto a single platform. He explained that the focus was on building a shared understanding of the audit framework, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and aligning strategies and timelines to ensure systematic assessment and strengthening of critical infrastructure across the country.

Participants were briefed on the program’s scope, rationale, and phased implementation plan, including the prioritization of high-occupancy and high-risk buildings, use of standardized audit methodologies such as visual inspections and non-destructive testing, development of digital reporting and decision-support systems, and integration of resilience indicators into infrastructure planning.

The seminar was attended by senior federal and provincial officials, representatives of building control and development authorities, engineers, technical experts, academics, and development partners. It concluded with a collective commitment to jointly implement the Infrastructure Audit Program – 2026, finalize initial priorities and timelines, and translate the national vision of resilient infrastructure into concrete action, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to protect lives, safeguard public investments, and build safer, disaster-resilient communities. – ER News Desk

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