Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday visited the National Earthquake Simulation Centre at Tianjin University and appreciated the use of modern technology in China for disaster management.

The prime minister observed that the modern technologies and methods being used in China would be extremely beneficial for dealing with natural disasters in Pakistan.

“By benefiting from Chinese expertise, Pakistan will be able to adopt effective precautionary measures and strategies to deal with future natural disasters,” a statement issued by the media wing of the PM Office quoted the prime minister as saying.

He said that projects such as the International Medical Centre and the China-Pakistan joint lab for disaster management in Pakistan should be further strengthened, and the partnership between the two countries in this regard should be enhanced.

The prime minister noted that nationwide efforts were underway to respond to the recent flood situation in Pakistan.

He said the federal government dispatched additional relief convoys on Sunday for the flood-affected families in Narowal, Sialkot, Wazirabad, Hafizabad, Chiniot, and Jhang.

These convoys would be handed over to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), he added.

The prime minister directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure complete coordination with the Punjab government in view of the current flood situation and to provide full support to the provincial disaster management authorities.

He reiterated that the relief operations for flood-affected families would continue.

At the National Earthquake Simulation Centre, the prime minister was briefed on disaster management and rescue technologies, including newly developed medical rescue vehicles.

He was also given a briefing on the modern technologies developed for precautionary measures against natural disasters.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also informed that several projects under China-Pakistan cooperation were already operational, while others were still in progress.

These projects included the China-Pakistan Joint Lab for Disaster and Emergency Medicine created under the Belt and Road Initiative, the International Medical Cooperation Centre, China-Pakistan Friendship Hospital and other similar initiatives.