Islamabad hosted a weeklong international programme on Disaster Management and climate change adaptation at the Akhtar Hameed Khan National Centre for Rural Development (NCRD), bringing together experts and practitioners from 12 African and Asian countries to bolster regional capacity and resilience.
Eighteen international delegates participated in the workshop, representing Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Zambia. The gathering at NCRD Islamabad emphasised practical learning and peer exchange to address growing climate and disaster risks in member countries.
The event was inaugurated by Barrister Nabeel A. Awan, Secretary Establishment Division, with members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials and representatives from AARDO, academia and development organisations in attendance. The diverse presence underlined the programme’s regional importance and commitment to collaborative solutions.
Israr Mohammad Khan, Director General of NCRD, highlighted that AARDO member states are increasingly exposed to extreme weather events and environmental shocks, stressing the urgent need for robust Disaster Management strategies, adaptive measures and long-term resilience building. He thanked AARDO Secretary General Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh for sustained support and for enabling cross-border exchange of best practices and innovation.
The workshop combined in-house sessions with field visits designed to deliver actionable insights on disaster preparedness, response coordination and climate adaptation frameworks. Organisers said the format aims to strengthen institutional capacity, foster policy learning and encourage concrete cooperation among participating countries.
Drawing on his experience as Chairman of the Planning and Development Board in Lahore, Barrister Awan shared provincial efforts to tackle smog and environmental degradation and invited delegates to visit the P&D Board during their Lahore stop for deeper institutional exchange. He praised NCRD’s role in advancing rural development and poverty alleviation across AARDO member states and expressed confidence the training would equip participants with tools to implement sustainable resilience strategies.
Aslam Khan, Head of Finance and Coordinator to the Regional AARDO Office for South and Central Asia, commended the sustained collaboration between NCRD and AARDO. He emphasised that South-South cooperation and peer learning are vital to address transboundary environmental challenges and to strengthen rural development efforts across Africa and Asia.
The inaugural session proceeded to participant introductions and set out an intensive training schedule focused on dialogue, skills development and policy learning. The session closed with a group photograph, networking tea and the presentation of a commemorative shield by the Director General NCRD to the chief guest as a token of appreciation.
