ISLAMABAD, JUL 05 (DNA) – Pakistan and Cuba Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-operate in the field of disaster management.

The MoU was signed by Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Omar Mehmood Hayat and Ambassador of Cuba to Pakistan, Gabriel Tield Copote.

The executing agency for implementation of MoU from Pakistan is NDMA while from Cuban side it is General National Staff of the Civil Defense.

While speaking on the occasion Chairman of NDMA Lt Gen Omar Mehmood Hayat termed the signing of MoU as a significant step toward building resilience against disasters and said the MoU would provide a legal framework for enhancing mutual cooperation between the two countries in the areas of disaster management and risk mitigation.

“This cooperation is much needed to save precious human lives and economy in both the countries”, Lt Gen Omar added.

Cuban ambassador said through such bilateral cooperation countries could learn from each other new ways of reducing disaster risks to minimize exposures to hazards.

He observed that during peace time management skills of complex disasters and applications of innovative methods of handling them could be shared with each other for capacity building of disaster management professionals.

Both sides expressed strong resolve for continued support and co-operation and to share mutually beneficial experience. Towards the end, the chairman of NDMA presented a souvenir to the visiting guest as a token of profound gratitude.=DNA

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