Islamabad: Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Iftikhar Gilani has said that October 8, 2005, remains a tragic day in the region’s history, when a devastating earthquake destroyed entire cities and villages, claimed thousands of lives, and left millions of people homeless. In his message released on the eve of Earthquake Martyrs Day, today, the prime minister paid eulogizing tributes to those who lost their lives in the disaster and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant the martyrs a high place in Paradise. Praising the Kashmiri people for their resilience in the face of adversity, he said that the entire kashmiri nation remained united and organized with patience during that difficult period. Referring to Pakistan’s significant contribution, the AJK premier paid great tributes to the Pakistani nation, armed forces, state institutions, international aid agencies, and overseas Pakistanis for their role in relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts. He said that the earthquake had caused immense damage to Azad Kashmir’s infrastructure. He said that reconstruction of hundreds of schools and colleges is still incomplete despite the passage of two decades. The government, he said, was working to complete the remaining projects and improve infrastructure to provide better educational facilities. PM Gilani, while stressing the need for effective planning to reduce the scale of damage, said that natural disasters could not be prevented, but their risks and impact could be reduced through effective planning and preparedness. “We are committed to establishing an effective and robust system to protect lives and property during emergencies,” the prime minister said, adding that strengthening disaster management systems and infrastructure were among the government’s 100-day priorities. He said the government’s development vision also focused on addressing long-term challenges caused by natural disasters. He added that the Punjab government’s development model and the benefits of the ‘Apna Ghar Scheme’ would also be extended to Azad Kashmir to help people build quality houses.
