PESHAWAR, Oct 8: Experts have urged the authorities to put in place a preparedness plan so that the country may respond swiftly to calamities in order to curtail loss of life and property.

“Natural disasters, which can neither be predicted nor prevented, can affect people all over the world. Earthquakes, hailstorms, avalanches and landslides occur suddenly while floods, cyclones and volcanoes take place with some element of warning,” said geologist Dr Syed Shafiqur Rehman.

He said so on Monday at the “First National Disaster Awareness Day”, held in remembrance of the Oct 8, 2005 earthquake that killed at least 73,000 people and injured more than 100,000.

Dr Shafiq said that action plans should be prepared in advance in order to deal with any emergency, for which adequate precautionary measures could be taken only through sound planning.

Vice-chancellor of Peshawar University Prof (Dr) Mohammad Javed Khan was the chief guest on the occasion while Prof (Dr) Said Khan Khalil, the vice-chancellor of the NWFP Agricultural University, presided over the ceremony.

Speakers highlighted the importance of the day and spoke at length about various aspects of natural disasters.

Dr Qaisar Ali of University of Engineering and Technology, Shaheen Afridi of Khyber Medical University, Christian Muller of GTZ, Liaqat Ali of PERA, Dr Ghulam Habib and Prof Dr Amir Khan of the university’s geography department also spoke on the occasion.

They said the Oct 8 tragedy rendered some 3,500,000 people homeless, but they praised the people, who they said, worked hard for the rehabilitation of their brethren.

Dr Qaisar Ali said that earthquakes did not kill people but buildings did. Therefore, only quality material should be used in the construction of various buildings.

Prof Dr Javed Khan said the earthquake of October 2005 had shocked the nation physically as well as psychologically, adding that such hazards could only be prevented by taking precautionary measures.

He said that certain steps needed to be taken into consideration in the construction of houses in order to avoid massive destruction.

He reiterated that awareness was important in this regard and it was the responsibility of everyone, particularly the teachers, to inform, educate and sensitise the students, enabling them to handle such incidents. “We need to know what to do during and after the earthquakes,” he emphasised.

Earlier at 8:52 am, a one-minute silence was observed to express solidarity with the affected people while prayers were also offered for those killed in the earthquake.

A walk was arranged from the Convocation Hall to the Teachers Community Centre. The Photo Video Club of the University of Peshawar has arranged a photographic exhibition in this connection at the Teachers Community Centre Hall where 200 photographs of the affected buildings and people had been put on display for visitors.

A large number of teachers and students of various departments and affiliated schools and colleges were present on the occasion.