The severe earthquake measuring 7.6 magnitude on the Richer scale that unleashed its worst fury on Azad Kashmir wiping many towns off the map and burying the citizens in mud and rubbles.
The earthquake had not only left multifarious problems but also had left many untold stories that would be remembered all time to come.
The exact statistics of dead, injured persons and homeless are still not cleared so far. According to an estimate, more than 3.5 million people were rendered homeless by the October 8 earthquake.
The life has returned to normal in many quake-stricken areas and most people are returning to their hometowns while small-scale business activities are gaining momentum in the AJK capital.
The Business Recorder correspondent a few days back visited different earthquake-hit areas of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir that was looking like 'Moenjodaro'.
It was witnessed that a large number of government offices and houses collapsed as a result of which the capital was presenting a gloomy and horrible look and the city was converted into ruins. The local people were looking frightened and sad over the death of their kith and kin and the huge loss of property.
The majority of the dwellers of the AJK capital had become shelter-less and are living in tents where they are confronting multifarious problems because the cold weather is fast approaching. On way to the AJK capital, large queues of trucks, loaded with food and other articles of daily use, were witnessed on Rawalpindi-Muzaffarabad road. Similarly, food and relief articles were being dropped through helicopters in far-off areas of Muzaffarabad.
Undoubtedly, several non-governmental organisations, political parties, religious parties are rendering highly laudable services on humanitarian grounds and providing food, accommodation and medical treatment facilities to the quake-hit people in tent cities set up in and close to Muzaffarabad. These services are not enough. The quake affectees need immediate attention for their survival. No government or country would be able to cope with the biggest devastation and challenge alone.
Huge funds are required for the rehabilitation of the affectees and reconstruction of infrastructure in quake-stricken areas. It was heartening to note that Turkey and some other friendly countries have also established their medical camps for providing timely and speedy health cover to the affectees in Muzaffarabad. The timely support of international community would further help in cementing their relations with Pakistan.
There is dire need of improving the sanitation system in the AJK capital because heaps of garbage and other waste could be witnessed in every nook and corner. These heaps of garbage pose serious threats to human life.
On the appeal of President Pervez Musharraf the whole nation demonstrated complete solidarity with the quake-hit people and donated generously to the President's relief fund. President Pervez Musharraf pledged to provide shelter to the shelter less and hospitals, schools and roads in the quake-hit areas.
According to the damage assessment report, Pakistan required 5.2 billion dollars for undertaking reconstruction, rehabilitation and relief purposes. In order to cope with the assorted challenges, President Pervez Musharraf was endeavouring for getting the maximum financial support amounting to 5.2 billion dollars from the international community to cope with the challenge.
The biggest requirement is shelter to the homeless, who due to the minus temperature would not be able to survive in tents. The donors conference must focus attention towards this factor and generate sufficient funds to provide shelter to the affectees, particularly of remote hilly areas that are now covered in snow.
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