Delegates from the Asia Pacific region including India have gathered in Pakistan for a meet that begins here Tuesday on the role of telecom operators in disaster management.

The three-day symposium of the Asia Pacific Tele-community (APT) on "Telecommunications for Disaster Relief" has been organised by the Ministry of Information Technology, Online news agency reported.

The event will bring together a diverse audience, including stakeholders, telecom companies and senior government officials.

Among the international participants are Masahiko Fujimoto of the Japanese ministry of internal affairs and communications, Masayuki Muto of NEC Japan, Hiroyuki Kawasaki of the Japan Radio Co. Ltd. as well as many other senior officials from India, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Thailand.

The symposium will be spread over 10 sessions and will discuss a range of issues, including the role of telecom operators and broadcasters in disaster management, disaster relief in APT countries and mobilisation of resources for disaster management and relief.