*3.1.1.2. Information flow*

PMD is acting as the key focal agency role. In case of tsunami all initial information flow will take place through PMD following timeline (**Figure 5**).

The information received to PMD about the possibility of a natural disaster such as tsunami, through national or international sources, is first conveyed to response agencies and national/ provincial/district stakeholders within minutes, as per departmental SoPs.

**a.** NDMA

**2.2. Secondary data collection**

and objective of various stakeholders.

A thorough desk‐based review was conducted in order to carry out the project effectively. This comprises a literature review of reports drafted in the past that focuses on the same problem analysis, for example, Standard Operating Procedures of Tsunami Warning by National Seismic Monitoring and Tsunami Early Warning Centre Pakistan Meteorological Department 2010, Tsunami Risk Reduction for the Coastal Areas of Pakistan by National Disaster Man‐ agement Authority, reports of UNDP's pioneer project on "Strengthening TEWS in Pakistan," UNESCO‐IOC [5], Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Center (IOTIC) project website "1945 Makran Tsunami" and policy documents of government organizations to understand mission

Data relating to the geography, topography, and demography of the target areas were collected from the Deputy Commissioner offices, WWF‐Pakistan, Google imagery, and Survey of

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and 2005 Kashmir earthquake prompted the Pakistani authorities to establish disaster management institutional arrangement and strengthening existing early warning system that could relay warning to those most at risk. Foregoing in view, in March 2010, the National Seismic Monitoring and Tsunami Early Warning Centre (NSM & TEWC) at Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) published Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for tsunami warning [4]. It identified PMD, disaster management author‐ ities, and emergency responders as the key informants within the early warning communica‐ tion chain that initiates from National Seismic Monitoring and Tsunami Early Warning Center (NSM & TEWS) at PMD and ends at the potential victims. This chapter assesses the institutional arrangements of each of the aforementioned authorities, especially in terms of capacity and limitations in two categories: Early Warning Dissemination Agencies and Emergency Res‐

NSM & TEWC at PMD are adequately equipped to issue warnings depending upon National and Global Seismographic network's data on real‐time basis to monitor seismic activity in order to locate potential tsunamigenic earthquakes. They are also connected with global centers such as Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning Centers (IOTWS), and Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). PMD is also working on information sharing with

*2.2.1. Desk review*

140 Tsunami

Pakistan's maps.

ponders.

**3. Current scenario**

**3.1. Institutional arrangement**

*3.1.1. Early warning dissemination agencies*

*3.1.1.1. Pakistan meteorological department*


PMD's usual modes of communication and dissemination of early warning information are:


In addition to the above‐mentioned resources, PMD recently acquired mass notification system installed at Gwadar and Pasni cities connected via satellite.

**Figure 5.** Tsunami warning SoPs, Source; Report developed by NS&TEWC, PMD, 2010.

Through this arrangement, the system installed in a community can be directly activated from PMD Karachi office, using a satellite link. Technically, the warning information received to PMD (about a possible tsunami) will be sent to INMARSAT ground station through TCP/IP link. The information received to INMARSAT ground station then is sent to INMARSAT satellite pointing to area that activates the mass notification systems at Pasni and Gwadar. The system basic building blocks have been shown in **Figure 6**.

Challenges and Opportunities for Reducing Losses to Fast-Arriving Tsunamis in Remote Villages Along the Coast of Pakistan 143

**Figure 6.** INMARSAT Siren system activated through satellite connection from PMD Tsunami Center Karachi.
