National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)an integral part of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with Swiss Development Cooperation(SDC) and Karakoram International University (KIU) Gilgit, organized a three days training and Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) focused on Disaster Risk Reduction through Preparedness and Response Planningfrom16^th – 18^thApril, 2019 at KIU, Gilgit. More than 70 officials and representatives of different government line departments, humanitarian organizations academiaand civil society participated in the training. Eng. Prof. Dr. Attaullah Shah Vice Chancellor KIU graced the inaugural ceremony as chief guest on 16^th April.

Brigadier Fiaz Hussain Shah (Retired), Senior Capacity Building Specialist led the training while Mr. Waseem Ahmed and Mr. Salman Amjad from National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) facilitated the training and Simulation Exercise.Mr. Farid Ahmed, DG GBDMA, Dr. Garee Khan (KIU), Mr. Hamid Hussain (KIU), Mr. Nasir Uddin (GBDMA) and Ms. Sosan Aziz from ETI also delivered lectures.

Training covered a host of topics related to Disaster Management Cycle besides important subjects like Gender and Child Protection, Disaster Risk Assessment, mountain area hazard mitigation and application of GIS and Remote Sensing in disaster management. Simulation Exercise focused on Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness and Response phases of disaster management cycle. It was designed to make the participants practice all important concepts, procedures,SOPs and improve their problem solving abilities as related to Disaster Management. Great deal of engagement by the participants made the endeavour successful and achievedthe intended objectives.

Training and SIMEX concluded on 18^thApril, 2019. Dr. Manzoor Ali, Dean Faculty of Natural Sciences (KIU)was the Guest of Honour at closing ceremony. Brig Fiaz Hussain Shah, Senior

Capacity Building Specialist NIDM, in his closing remarks thanked GBDMA, KIUand Swiss Development Cooperation for extending their support. He expressed his resolve that NIDM, GBDMA, academia and SDC would work hands in gloves taking agenda of capacity building related to disaster management ahead.