Pakistan is located in one of the most hazard prone areas of the world (Rafiq & Blaschke, 2012). Different disasters such as epidemics, tsunamis, landslides, droughts, glacier outbursts, floods, earthquakes and cyclones occur in Pakistan. Since 1954, Pakistan has suffered mostly from floods followed by earthquakes and storms.

The undermentioned Table gives an over-view of the hazards in Pakistan.

Framework of analysis of this study is informed by an eclectic approach using insights and tools available in the Drivers of Change (DoC) studies and Political Economy Analysis (PEA). The critical drivers that determine the outcome and effectiveness of DRR policies are important to be clearly understood in case of Pakistan. These drivers may facilitate or retard the adoption of DRR policies and their effective implementation. In the literature on PEA, these drivers are generally grouped under three categories: structures, institutions and political processes. For the analysis of DRR in Pakistan, structures are understood as basic and relatively stable features of the political economy of the state and sector under study. The institutions here are defined as both informal and formal rules, laws and regulations that influence the political behavior, influence and relationship among different actors. The political process, for the purpose of this framework of analysis, includes various actors and groups to advance their respective agendas and interests.

The NDM commission was established after the earthquake of 2005 in Pakistan. The Commission is the apex and higher most decision-making body of Pakistan. Basically, NDMA was designed to act as central body to implement disaster strategies. Further, Provincial authorities had their own autonomous bodies for disaster management head by respective heads of provinces. Union councils and local governments are the lowest tiers. This third tier of government has the most important role to allocate the resources for the developmental work. They can play a vital role to advocate the needs and demands of communities from disaster risk reduction authorities and other related bodies. Up till 2014, Pakistan has faced the losses more than US$39bn only from floods.

In addition to this, analysis of post 2005 policies on disaster show that the available approaches that are being implementing are based on short term relief and response efforts (Ahmed, 2013). There is very minute focus on capacity building, disaster preparedness and prevention. Legislative and regulatory gaps and weaknesses of disaster related institutions persist in term of mitigating susceptibilities and improvement livelihood (Deen, 2015).. Keep in view these loopholes, this paper has assessed the impacts of natural disasters (flash floods, earthquakes) on vulnerable groups, especially local rural and urban communities by taking the case study of AJK, Pakistan. More specifically, this paper finds out the preparedness and adaptation approaches at the community and institutional level in rural and urban settings of AJK, Pakistan. In particular, the paper has analyzed vulnerability of local communities and the local institutions. Further, the government policies on DRR, laws and strategies on Resilience, preparedness responses and climate adaptation have been analyzed to understand where the gaps lie. The next section explains the research methodology of the paper.

From the standpoint of PEA, we need to place the interaction of various institutions and actors and their respective incentives or disincentives. Within the context of Federal Structure of Pakistan, DRR/DRM has been defined as provincial subject under the constitution of Pakistan. This defines the center-province relations and their dynamics (Cheema, Mehmood & Imran, 2016). This federal structure and constitutional stipulations of different roles provide a space for political negotiations, competitions and incentives and disincentives to the political actors both at the provincial and federal levels. KPK is the first province which has made changes in the NDM Act 2010 and has introduced National Disaster Management (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Act, 2012. After the 2010 floods there were delays in the mobilization of funds for the affected by the international development partners (Wasim, 2015; Deen, 2015). The delays can be attributed to two key reasons; first the enormity of disaster was unfolding gradually, and secondly international humanitarian and development agencies were already committed heavily in responding to the Haiti earthquake. But this all raised doubts over the credibility of Federal government in wake of media reports for alleged corruption.

Further, it was learnt that political parties attach greater value to the high visibility infrastructure development projects as compared to investing in DRR. The situation exacerbates due to lack of demand from their electorates and political leadership draws more mileage from showcasing work for public good which is best demonstrated by infrastructure projects. The absence of political incentive for undertaking DRR related initiatives for the public representatives gives them ample space to focus on all other areas but DRR (Cheema et al., 2014).

Adequate financing on DRR/DRM poses serious political challenges and speaks for the political will of the government to match its policy announcements (Fair, Kuhn, Malhotra & Shapiro, 2017). There are two major issues which were identified in this regard. First, allocations are not adequate and whatever is allocated not spent well. Balance of allocations is skewed in favor of response and relied and very less is invested on preparedness. Secondly, finances allocated and spent on DRR lose their desired impact due to extensive corruption and rent seeking. A study carried out by NDMA on public-sector financial investments for mitigation and preparedness suggests that between 1998-99 to 2008-09, the Federal government's spending on disaster response was nine times higher than preparedness and mitigation. The pattern of spending does not help build DRR systems in Pakistan. Moreover, the analysis of expenditure trends indicates underutilization of the allocated resources.

Moreover, it was found that local governments are totally ignored. Local governments run at the whims of the provincial government by civil servants as their administrators can advance the provincial agenda more easily as compared to the local governments led by provincial representatives. The available literature suggest that local governments offer broader opportunities for DRR as compared to other governments. The relationship between poor governance and disaster has also been established as a 'risk driver'. Thus, it is understandable that effective local government can lead to effective DRR. However, in case of Pakistan, communities still have the incentive to engage for disaster resilient measures without having representative governments at local level. Hence the local governments in Pakistan may be run by civil servants appointed as administrators by provincial government instead of public representatives; people still find incentives in engaging with them for building sustainable partnership for DRR/M.

Further, this was found that in Pakistan, most vulnerable people to disasters are the poor and women. Whether they are the peasants of different provinces or industrial workers trying to earn their living under shabby governance of industrial sector; all are exposed to disasters of different kinds. This exposure warrants effective DRR response from government but political considerations of the leadership entail quite distant responses from the ones actually required. Special needs of women and children with respect to lodging and health in the wake of disasters do not receive serious consideration while planning relief efforts. The floods of 2010 rendered millions homeless and all the relief efforts planned and carried out were blind to different needs of women.

In align, this was established that DRR, as a relatively newer field of knowledge is quite under-research specifically in case of Pakistan. Most of the available research literature in Pakistan deals with post disaster responses and issues regarding rehabilitation and recovery. The knowledge base that deals with the issues of preparedness, mitigation leading to more resilient development and communities is somewhat missing. Information failure in case of DRR in Pakistan arises because of disconnect between research and policy. Since policy is not informed by research at any stage of its formulation and implementation, the process stays isolated from people.

On the other hand, notwithstanding a number of political and economic constraints, the DRM system has been able to make some progress such as establishment of DRM institutions at all tiers, formulation of draft National DRR policy, initiation of Hazard Vulnerability Assessments, and introduction of the concept of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and generating debate on its merits and challenges. However, in order to have effective DRR system in place, the policy space needs to be cleared of legal and institutional duplications, unclear mandates and jurisdiction and lack of coordination and communication among various actors and institutions. Disaster Risk Reduction is a cross-cutting undertaking that needs close coordination from diverse agencies, line departments, civil society, private sector and government departments and it has to happen at all tiers of governance.

Within the context defined above, to analyze the DM institutional framework and exploring issues related to DM institutional framework linked with community resilience and preparedness at micro-level, a survey was conducted in AJK, Pakistan.

Out of the total respondents who filled the questionnaire, 56% were males and 44% were females. Most of the sample size was aged between 18 to 45. It was found that illiteracy rate amongst women was at 42.3%. Almost 75% of the women population had just completed until middle school, whereas about 7% of the men had masters' degrees as well. Most of the respondents asserted that heavy rains are the most common and constantly occurring hazard. Secondly, earthquake was the most frequent disaster while thirdly, land sliding was pointed out as a constant threat. Table 3 gives an over-view of the frequency of the disaster and the level of impact.