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Pakistan

International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) in Pakistan

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Executive summary

As one of the most disaster prone countries in the world, it is crucial that Pakistan be legally prepared to facilitate and regulate international disaster assistance. The vulnerability of Pakistan to large-scale disasters became all too evident during the devastating floods of 2010, which affected over 20 million people and approximately 70% of the country. During large scale disasters such as these, even the most well-resourced countries may require external assistance to meet the needs of the affected population.

Global research has demonstrated that an absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework addressing international assistance often results in delays in the delivery of relief goods, a lack of accountability of humanitarian responders, and poorly coordinated relief operations. This document provides a review of the existing laws and policies in Pakistan relevant to international disaster assistance, in light of the Guidelines for the domestic facilitation and regulation of international disaster relief and initial recovery assistance (also referred to as the ‘IDRL Guidelines’). This review was undertaken on the basis of desk research of the relevant laws, policies and secondary sources available online at the time of research commencing in 2011. It is based primarily on documentary sources and has not benefited from extensive stakeholder consultation. It may therefore not have captured all relevant legal instruments.