MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on Tuesday acknowledged that while significant progress had been made in the 19 years since the October 8, 2005 earthquake, much still remained to be done.

He made this statement in his address to a grand ceremony held to mark the 19th anniversary of the devastating earthquake as ‘National Disaster Awareness Day.’ The ceremony was heldunder the aegis of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)at K.H. Khurshid Football Stadium, where a memorial for the earthquake martyrs stands.

It was attended by AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, cabinet members Deevan Ali Khan Chughtai, Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, Pir Mazhar Saeed Shah, and Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed, along with senior government officials, political and social figures, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and a large number of citizens from various walks of life.

At 8:52am, sirens were sounded in memory of the earthquake martyrs, followed by a minute of silence. The prime minister laid a wreath at the martyrs’ memorial and offered prayers for the deliverance of the departed souls. Police and Rescue 1122 volunteers presented a guard of honour to the martyrs.

Banners carrying disaster preparedness slogans were displayed at several spots at the venue.

Flags of all the countries, including the United Nations, that contributed to the relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts after the earthquake were hoisted at the event.

In his address, Prime Minister Haq recalled how entire cities and towns in the northern part of AJK were destroyed, with major roads and link routes wiped out or severely damaged, leaving nearly half of the territory’s population deprived of basic necessities.

“While the long-term effects of this tragedy will continue to be felt, we are grateful that today, the situation is much better, thanks to the significant support of the Pakistani government, military and the international community,” he said.

“We cannot forget the remarkable role played by global organisations, national and international NGOs in the recovery efforts. The way the international community, transcending all racial and ethnic differences, helped the earthquake victims and soothed our wounds is an unparalleled example of brotherhood and humanity,” he added.

Underscoring the need for increased awareness about climate change to prepare for future disasters, he pointed out that Azad Kashmir was ranked sixth among regions most affected by climate change, with unseasonal rains and an increase in glacial lakes becoming more common.

He further noted that while the monsoon brought less than average rainfall this year, the loss of life, property, and infrastructure was significantly higher. “While natural disasters cannot be prevented by human hands, as an informed and vigilant nation, we can mitigate their impacts and reduce damage through foresight and preparedness,” he stressed.

He warned that the future posed immense challenges due to climate change, and immediate priority must be given to safeguarding the environment.

“We must rely on our own resources and stand on our own feet. We need to expand forest cover and promote afforestation,” he added.

The AJK premier reaffirmed his government’s serious commitment to establishing an efficient administrative structure for disaster management, describing the formation of the SDMA as a crucial step in this direction.

Mr Haq pointed out that statistics provided by the SDMA showed the organisation was vigilant and diligent in its responsibilities, having accomplished substantial work under difficult conditions in a short time.

He also shared that the AJK government was in the planning phase to extend emergency services to all subdivisions and tehsils of the region, with the aim of ensuring the safety of the people.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to utilising all resources for public welfare, he said: “We are striving to build a better future with renewed determination and spirit.”

At the close of the event, the prime minister and speaker distributed certificates and shields to students from 20 schools and six colleges across the state who secured top positions in recent speech competitions on natural disasters and climate change.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2024