'Quake has raised various points to ponder'

The Earthquake that struck parts of Pakistan had given us points to ponder about our vulnerability to such disasters and inadequate measures and means that we have to counter such calamity.
Dr Athar Ali Khan of Geology Department of the University of Karachi uttered these harsh but realistic words while giving his views in the seminar "Causes and Implications of October 8 Earthquake", held in the university's Department of International Relations, on Thursday.
He said the disaster was of such a colossal magnitude that it could not be fathomed just by going through the media and by hearing from others. It should only be comprehended by only visiting the affected areas.
Dr Athar said that the areas affected by the earthquake are situated on the fault lines and are prone to the tremors and added that the actual thing is precaution that was not taken even after the earlier jolts in the same areas.
"Japan, China, Iran and Turkey are also on the fault lines but these countries, especially Japan, have formulated strategies to deal with the natural calamities," he added.
He said construction of special houses designed to withstand tremors was one of the major strategies and they are bearing fruits.
Dr Khan said that it was essential to be ready for the natural calamities and devise strategy to be used during the time of emergency. Unfortunately, he lamented, we are least equipped with such strategies.
He informed the audience that the earthquake activity in Pakistan was mainly concentrated in the north and western sections of the country, along the boundary of Indian plate and Iranian and Afghan Micro Plates.
The Chaman fault runs along Pakistan's western frontier with Afghanistan from Kalat, in the northern Makran range, past Quetta and then on to Kabul.
He added that these areas are mostly undeveloped and awareness among the populace is minimal.
The government has to take this scenario in mind and prepare for any future disaster as well, the professor concluded.
Dr Fazal Ahmed, Chairman, Department of Quran-u-Sunnah and Dr Moonis Ahmar of the International Relations Department also spoke on the occasion.