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ISLAMABAD: The 19th anniversary of the devastating October 8, 2005, earthquake — that killed thousands in northeast Pakistan — is being observed today (Tuesday) across the country with solemnity, respect, and renewed commitment to disaster preparedness.
The day is being observed as National Resilience Day to highlight the importance of preparedness and safety from natural disasters.
The earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, left over 80,000 people dead and more than 100,000 injured, while causing widespread destruction to infrastructure across AJK, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and parts of northern Pakistan.
Across the country, the day began with special prayers during Fajr at mosques for the departed souls. The AJK government has declared a gazetted holiday throughout the state in remembrance of the victims.
The event is a tribute to the victims and a reminder of the deep-rooted solidarity between the people and government of Pakistan, as well as international NGOs and friendly countries that contributed immensely during the incident.
In their separate messages on the occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have called for focusing on mitigating the impacts of climate change through effective coordination and construction of climate-resilient infrastructure.
‘Efficient coordination critical for national resilience’
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that efficient and effective coordination, development of contingency plans, and risk communication to the farthest communities were critical for national resilience.
‘National Resilience Day’ is a motivation for us to embrace the best practices and implement policies and strategies aimed at fortifying our nation’s resilience, the prime minister said in a message on the occasion of National Resilience Day.
He said the government’s policy initiatives should encompass various sectors, including safe development of infrastructure, improved disaster preparedness, poverty alleviation, safer spatial land use planning, adherence to building codes, efficient water resource management, sound agricultural practices, and increased afforestation nationwide, including coastal areas.
وزیر اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا قدرتی آفات کے حوالے سے برداشت کے قومی دن کے موقع پر پیغام pic.twitter.com/2FCGTUhMJM
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) October 8, 2024
“The 8th of October reminds us of the devastating earthquake of 2005 – a great tragedy that befell Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Our heartfelt prayers go to all those who endured the loss of lives and properties,” he added.
The PM said Pakistan was facing an immense impact of climate change despite not being responsible for it. Frequent recurrence of unpredictable extreme events has given a devastating blow to our struggling economy.
He commended the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan for its hard work to have evolved a tested mechanism as a national response to such natural calamities.
Shehbaz Sharif further expressed his satisfaction that NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) had the best capacities in the management of national disasters. “NEOC is founded on high-end technology inputs to create disasters’ early warnings much ahead of time – saving lives and infrastructure.”
President calls for climate-resilient infrastructure
President Asif Ali Zardari has called for focusing on constructing climate-resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
He stressed the need to educate the people about disaster risk management, and mitigation, and actively engage the communities to promote a culture of disaster preparedness.
“Today we are observing National Resilience Day, which reminds us of the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005, that claimed thousands of lives”, he said in a message on the occasion.
The destruction it brought to our cities and villages remains etched in our memory. However, amid this catastrophe, our nation displayed an unparalleled spirit of resilience and unity and generously helped the affected people, the president said.
He also extended his deepest gratitude to the international community, friendly countries, civil society, welfare, and charity organizations that extended their invaluable support in the aftermath of this earthquake.
“We need to equip our relevant institutions with the latest technologies, expertise, and resources to effectively respond to emerging challenges.” He stressed that improving early warning systems, enhancing coordination among national and provincial authorities, and adopting modern disaster mitigation strategies should be the key priorities to timely respond to threats.
“This National Resilience Day reminds us that the Pakistani nation has displayed extraordinary resilience in the face of challenges and has always emerged stronger. I am sure that if we continue to work with the spirit of unity and resilience, we can overcome the challenges facing our country,” the president added.
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