Islamabad (TDI): On the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a message of solidarity, as Pakistan joined the global community in honoring those who have lost their lives to earthquakes.
Observed annually on April 29 and designated by the United Nations, the day serves as both a tribute to victims and a call to action for strengthening disaster preparedness worldwide.
In his statement, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of compassion for survivors alongside a renewed global commitment to resilience and risk reduction.
He highlighted that mitigating the devastating impact of earthquakes requires a multi-pronged approach, including improved infrastructure, comprehensive urban planning, and enhanced public awareness.
At the international level, he underscored the critical role of cooperation in advancing early warning systems and promoting construction practices that integrate modern safety standards.
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Reflecting on Pakistan’s own experience, Sharif recalled the трагедия of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, which claimed over 80,000 lives and displaced nearly three million people in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He noted that while the disaster left deep scars on the nation’s social and economic fabric, it also revealed extraordinary resilience and unity among the Pakistani people.
In the aftermath, Pakistan undertook significant reforms to strengthen its disaster response mechanisms, including the establishment of the National Disaster Management Authority.
Today, the NDMA plays a central role in identifying high-risk zones using geospatial technologies, historical data, and fault line analysis to support preparedness and risk reduction efforts.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to global frameworks such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, stressing the need for equitable access to early warning systems and the development of earthquake-resilient infrastructure.
At the national level, he emphasized ongoing efforts to build capacity through community training, integration of disaster education in schools under the Pakistan School Safety Framework, and investments in Geographic Information Systems and satellite-based modeling.
