MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): National Disaster Awareness Day was observed across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on October 8 to commemorate the martyrs of the devastating 2005 earthquake.
A central prayer ceremony was held at the University Ground Muzaffarabad, under the auspices of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
At 8:52 a.m., a siren was sounded and a minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims, as traffic across the city came to a halt.
The ceremony’s chief guests, Minister for Planning and Development and PDO Chaudhry Rashid, and Chief Secretary Azad Kashmir Khushal Khan, laid floral wreaths at the martyrs’ memorial and offered Fateha.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Chaudhry Rashid said the day serves as a solemn reminder of the tragedy and a renewed pledge to strengthen disaster preparedness.
“We resolve to rebuild the region with modern planning and coordinated efforts among all stakeholders,” he said, adding that the reconstruction after the 2005 earthquake was made possible through the cooperation of the Government of Pakistan, the Pakistan Army, and the international community.
Chief Secretary Khushal Khan, in his address, said the day recalls a painful chapter in history that affected millions across northern Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
“The government is taking serious steps to cope with natural disasters as climate change continues to intensify floods, landslides, and glacial melting,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, the people, and international humanitarian organizations for their role in reconstruction and relief efforts.
Secretary SDMA and Civil Defense Chaudhry Muhammad Farid highlighted that Azad Kashmir’s geography makes it highly vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, and landslides.
“Disaster management is a shared responsibility as no single institution can face it alone,” he emphasized, calling for greater coordination between NDMA, SDMA, and local communities.
He also shed light on SDMA’s performance during recent natural disasters and awareness initiatives for disaster preparedness.
The ceremony was attended by several cabinet ministers and senior officials, including Minister for Colleges Malik Zafar Iqbal, Minister for Wildlife and Fisheries Sardar Javed Ayub, Minister for Public Health Nisar Ansar Abdali, Minister for Trade and Travel Authority Prof. Taqdees Gilani, Secretary Services Sardar Zafar Mahmood Khan, Secretary Forests Ansar Yaqoob, and Secretary SERRA Amir Mahmood Mirza.
