ISLAMABAD: While the government has announced plans to build five million homes across the country, 6,000 homes in Balakot that were destroyed in the 2005 earthquake have yet to be rebuilt.

Speakers pointed this out during a webinar titled `Telling Tales of 2005 Kashmir Earthquake`, organised by the Pattan Development Organisation on Wednesday.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Oct 8, 2005, earthquakethat killed 85,000 people, injured another 140,000 and left 3.5 million homeless with 600,000 homes severely damaged.

The north of the country was particularly devastated and Balakot, the epicentre, was destroyed in a matter of moments. Now, 15 years later, it is still struggling to rebuild.

Wednesday`s discussion centred on disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction, inculcating accountability, governmental negligence and lessons learnt.

All the participants unanimously agreed thatin the 15 years the reconstruction of housing and infrastructure of roads, schools and healthcare as well as monetary support to those affectedis abysmal.

They also felt that despite former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar`s order to expedite the reconstruction of New Balakot City, successive govern-ments have not implemented the decision.

Social activist Shiraz Mehmood Quraishi said the current chief justice must reprise this decision and give it precedence.

He also shared that pursuant to focused reconstruction efforts as per the 2005 ruling, the funds that were allotted for Balakot`s rehabilitation have been redistributed to the Benazir Income Support (BISP) and Covid-19 emergency which is unfair and unjust to Balakot residents.

Panelists included National Coordinator Pattan Sarwar Bari, Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network Chairperson Dr Amod Dixit, activist Shiraz Mehmood Quraishi, former Balakot nazim Haider Ali Khan, journalists Zulfiqar Ali and Dr Fareed, and community representative Ismail Shah.

Yoshinobu Fukasawa, the founderof the International Network of Telling Live Lessons from Disaster (TeLLNet), shared his comments in a video message.

`We believe that storytelling can help put the wisdom and knowledge of disaster risk reduction into action, so that future generations do not forget these stories and continue to learn,` he said.

Representatives and journalists from Balakot relayed harrowing stories from the earthquake.

Dr Fareed lost three of his children in the quake and noted the lack of empathy the government has for the loss of those impacted.

`Prime Minister Imran Khan intends to make 5m new homes under his new agenda. Before PTI does that, I request they rebuild the 6,000 houses in Balakot that are yet to be even started,` he said.

Dr Dixit, who worked in the after-math the earthquake to consult on the building of quake-resistant buildings noted that while research has improved in the country, there is still an overriding trend of `non-engineered` buildings that are still vulnerable to such disasters.

He also highlighted that if in 15 years, governments all around South Asia are unable to rehabilitate disaster affectees, the goal of redeveloping disaster-hit areas by 2030 is not possible.

`There is lack of awareness and demand for disaster resilient buildings in not just Pakistan, but all of South Asia. Even engineers and experts are not aware of how to build stronger infrastructure. We must demand our own safety and change mindsets and behaviour to bring lasting change,` Dr Dixit said.

Sarwar Bari concluded the event byechoing the need for persistent work towards a disaster risk reduction strategy and its implementation. Keeping in line with the storytelling and commemorative spirit of the event, he ended with an anecdote from a young man in Balakot he recently interviewed.

`Safdar was six years old when the earthquake [occurred], he lost many friends as their school collapsed. He survived but was never able to go to school again. He became a child labourer and now at 21 is a waiter. He could have been an engineer, a doctor, a teacher, if the schools were rebuilt sooner,` he said.

All participants agreed that while statistics give an overview of losses, telling stories and remembering the loss is important to revitalise disaster risk reduction efforts and breed accountability to those who suffered unimaginable trauma.