Taking part in the annual hearing organised by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), he also stressed the need for greater sharing of resources and information so that regional and global responses could be mobilised rapidly and effectively when disasters strike.
"Some international co-operation is already in place, but much more sharing of information and expertise of this kind is still needed," the Senate chairman said.
The theme for Parliamentary Hearing, attended by parliamentarians from around the world, was: "The Responsibility to Protect - "Early and Co-ordinated Response in Dealing with Crisis Situations." Soomro said the theme was "very relevant" and given Pakistan's recent experience, the early warning preparedness and co-ordinated response was now of utmost importance.
The Senate Chairman spoke in detail about the colossal loss of human life and property by the killer quake, and said it was an issue of global importance. "It (the quake) has brought about an unprecedented disruption in the society and economy, and threatens the livelihood of the millions because of the loss of life and the damage to property". Earthquakes, tsunamis, torrential rain, heavy snow, high winds, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, droughts, and other natural disasters cause serious damage in various forms in countries throughout the world every year, he said adding many developing nations were vulnerable and had difficulty coping with them.
Over 90 per cent of those who died in natural disasters from 1978 through 2002 were people in the developing nations," Soomro said. The socially vulnerable poor were frequently the ones who suffered the most damage and ended up becoming displaced persons or refugees. The secondary effects of natural disasters, such as food shortages, inappropriate medical facilities and the deterioration of sanitary conditions, became prolonged, and developed into serious problems.
There was a dire need to make elaborate preparations for disasters long before they occur, Soomro said. "This is only possible if both governments and parliaments are appropriately prepared and well resource." He said preparations for disasters included development policies that take the potential disasters into account and avoid exacerbating them, including unsafe buildings in known flood plains or seismically sensitive areas, deforestation, damaging natural drainage systems and contribution to global warming. "Since parliaments represent the concerns and problems of the people, it is indispensable for them to contribute significantly to disasters and crisis situations by encouraging national governments and international institutions in their efforts, and by co-operating with related organisations in providing emergency aid," the senate chairman said.
In scrutinising the executive's use of extra emergency authority, Soomro said parliaments needed to be constructive and ready to play their key role in the warning and post-disaster phase. In addition, he said parliaments should support the training of emergency professionals and should ensure governments plan for all possible threats and disasters, not just the last disaster, and keep planning up to date. The Senate chairman emphasised the involvement of local communities, especially women, in crisis situations so people could play their roles in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Roads, schools, health clinics, water and food supplies needed to be planned in consultation with local community.
Warning systems must be directly linked to the communities under threat, he said adding volunteers, Non-Governmental Organisations and citizens' groups should be involved in mitigation, relief and reconstruction as natural disasters of the magnitude seen recently far surpass the capacity of governments and countries to deal with on their own.
In conclusion, Soomro thanked the United Nations and its specialised agencies as well as other international organisations for helping Pakistan deal with the effects of the worst-ever disaster.