ENVIRONMENTAL RISK COMMUNICATION: ANALYSING COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES OF PAKISTAN DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (PDMA) IN RESPONSE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Abstract

To make Pakistan ready to face the disasters and their consequences, the understanding of the perspectives and enhancement of the environmental risk communication strategies are vital. It is critical that general public receive adequate information and knowledge as well as necessary tools to prevent and respond to environmental threats and natural disasters as this country remained at high risk of experiencing such events in years. A sample size of 200 was chosen to ensure generalizability, and data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study targets communities affected by environmental hazards, with key stakeholders such as PDMA officials, local leaders, and community members selected via purposive sampling for interviews. The findings indicate that while PDMA's social media strategies have made significant strides in raising public awareness of environmental hazards, further improvements are necessary. By continuously evaluating and adapting its social media plans and integrating community feedback, PDMA can further improve disaster preparedness and response efforts, minimizing the impact of environmental disasters and enhancing resilience in Pakistan.