Muzaffarabad:At 8: 52 a.m. on October 8, 2005, the earth shook violently across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
This may be a scene from the past, but even after twenty-one years, those who witnessed that devastating earthquake with their own eyes have never been able to forget it. It was a terrifying nightmare whose memories still sent shivers down the spine.
The devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of families. According to official figures, more than 73,000 people lost their lives, while seven districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were severely affected.
In Azad Kashmir alone, 46,000 precious lives were lost, more than 33,000 people were injured, and millions were affected in one way or another.
According to a press release issued by SERRA, 53 percent of the infrastructure related to health, education, water supply, sanitation, and communications across Azad Jammu and Kashmir had been completely destroyed At the time, the total damage caused by the earthquake was estimated at approximately Rs. 125 billion.
Following this tragic disaster in human history, a massive operation was launched for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation, which was named ‘Operation Lifeline.’ The credit for the success of this operation undoubtedly goes to the Government of Pakistan, the Pakistan Armed Forces, the people of Pakistan, brotherly Islamic countries, and international organizations.
The spirit, determination, and human compassion demonstrated under the most difficult circumstances remain a proud chapter in our national history.
Twenty-one years have passed since the earthquake, yet the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation is still incomplete. Efforts were made to speak to officials of SERRA, the institution responsible for reconstruction in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, about the current situation, but the secretary avoided speaking to the media. However, according to a press release issued by the institution, in June 2026, Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif provided SERRA with Rs. 1 billion at the request of the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the press release, the funds were allocated for completing 67 educational institutions in the earthquake-affected districts where 80 per cent of the construction work had already been completed. So far, 14 of these projects have been completed and handed over to the relevant department.
According to SERRA officials, approximately Rs. 44 billion are still required to complete the reconstruction program. Of this amount, Rs. 20.113 billion is required for ongoing projects, while Rs. 24.013 billion is needed for the remaining projects.
These figures raise several questions. If the assistance received from national and international sources had been utilized more effectively and transparently, if the system of checks and balances had been stronger, and if projects had been monitored in a timely manner, perhaps there would not be a need for another Rs. 44 billion for reconstruction today.
In Muzaffarabad, several projects can still be seen that were initiated but whose real benefits never reached the public.
Sewerage lines and tanks constructed near rivers are clear examples. The question is: Despite billions of rupees being spent, why could the effectiveness and sustainability of these projects not be ensured?
According to official figures, out of 2,718 government educational institutions in Azad Kashmir, the buildings of 1,620 have been completed, while 501 projects are under construction. Work has yet to begin on the remaining projects.
Similarly, out of 160 projects in the health sector, 119 have been completed, work is ongoing on 21, while the remaining projects are still awaiting completion. Institutions and projects related to the environment, forests, livestock, agriculture, and several other sectors also appear to be awaiting construction and completion.
This situation is not merely a matter of statistics; it is a question of the hopes of thousands of people who, after the earthquake, believed that the destroyed infrastructure would soon be rebuilt and that their lives would be made better than before.
The tragedy is that even today, some government institutions in Azad Kashmir themselves lack safe buildings. The Secretariat offices, in particular, where SERRA’s office is also located, are in an extremely dilapidated condition. SERRA’s offices remained housed in shelters for a long period, and although a permanent building is now available, the building itself is not suitable for office use. God forbid, in the event of a major disaster, this building itself could become a serious threat.
On the other hand, the unplanned construction in Muzaffarabad city, adding more floors and rooms to dilapidated buildings in the name of renovation, and turning dry water channels into concrete jungles are tantamount to inviting future disasters.
The Municipal Corporation itself acknowledges that buildings are being constructed in the city and that encroachments exist in water channels. The question is: how many more institutions will be established to stop these encroachments and illegal constructions? The real need is not to create new institutions but to make existing institutions effective, empowered, and accountable.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir urgently need strict and impartial accountability. But the biggest question remains: Who will hold whom accountable?
If institutions are weak, the monitoring system is ineffective, and responsibility is not determined. Even the largest project eventually loses its usefulness. The public has the right to know where the aid received after the earthquake was spent, which projects have been completed, which remain incomplete, and who is responsible for projects that failed.
The purpose of accountability should not be to target anyone. Rather, it should be to protect state resources, restore public confidence, and prevent similar mistakes in the future.
To eliminate negative thinking and promote a positive outlook in Azad Kashmir, it is essential to provide ordinary citizens with affordable and speedy justice. The basic facilities that are the responsibility of the state, including health and education, must be provided to the people.
Government hospitals in Azad Kashmir should be equipped with quality facilities so that people prefer receiving treatment there instead of going to private clinics, thereby restoring their confidence in the public healthcare system.
Similarly, government employees should be kept away from politics. Unusual visits by government employees to ministers’ offices should be discouraged, and the performance of every government employee should be evaluated regularly. When everyone is required to fulfil their responsibilities and undergo a process of accountability, no one will have the opportunity to question their conduct, nor will anyone find it difficult to provide answers.
Today, twenty-one years have passed since the tragedy of October 8, 2005. With the passage of time, the wounds of the earthquake may appear to have healed, but the lessons this tragedy taught us are still before our eyes.
Natural disasters can not be prevented, but their impact can certainly be reduced. For this, strong planning, safe construction, effective institutions, a transparent system, strict accountability, and preparedness for the future are indispensable.
We must take more than memories from the rubble of the past-we must also take lessons. If we have truly learned from the tragedy of October 8, 2005; strengthened our institutions; prevented corruption and irregularities; prioritized education and healthcare; and adopted safe construction standards, then in the years ahead, Azad Kashmir can not only better withstand natural disasters but can also emerge as a prosperous and exemplary region.
October 8 should not be remembered merely as a day to mourn the past; it should also be remembered as a day to pledge to make the future safer.