National
India, Pakistan to host Saarc disaster, environment centres
The Saarc Environment and Disaster Management Centre will be set up in Indian and Pakistan as a split entity.
The Saarc Environment and Disaster Management Centre will be set up in Indian and Pakistan as a split entity.
According to an agreement reached in Pokhara during the 37th meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers, India will host the Disaster Management Centre while Pakistan will house the offices for the Environment and Energy Centre. Earlier, both the countries had laid claims to host the headquarters of the new body. Climate change, degradation of environment and natural disasters have taken a toll in the region with the member countries not fully prepared to combat the menace. Member states had agreed to merge Disaster Management, Forest Management, Coastal Area Management Centre and Environment centres into the environment and disaster management centre.