National Resilience Day is a solemn occasion to remember the thousands of precious lives lost in the devastating earthquake of 8 October 2005 and to pay tribute to the survivors who rebuilt their lives with courage and determination. We honour the bereaved families and all those who stood beside affected communities in their hour of need.
The tragedy remains etched in our national memory, but so does the extraordinary compassion and collective strength shown by the people and institutions of Pakistan, with support from international partners. The experience demonstrated that in times of adversity, our ability to protect one another and recover together is one of our greatest strengths. The most meaningful tribute to those we lost is to turn the lessons of the past into measures that better protect lives and communities in the future.
I express my sincere gratitude to the international community, including countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, China, Turkey, Iran, Japan and Cuba, for their solidarity and assistance during the earthquake. I also pay tribute to Pakistan’s national media, charitable organisations and countless volunteers who worked alongside public institutions to support affected communities. Their contribution remains an important part of our national experience of responding to disaster and helping people in times of need.
Pakistan today faces an increasingly complex risk environment, intensified by climate change, urbanisation and environmental degradation. Disaster resilience must therefore be treated as an essential part of national development and our responsibility towards future generations. We must move from reacting to emergencies towards anticipating risks, with scientific knowledge, reliable data and emerging technologies playing a greater role in this effort.
Next Generation Technology (NGT) at NDMA represents an important step in this direction. Advanced analytics, satellite technologies, predictive modelling and artificial intelligence can strengthen early warning systems, improve risk assessment and support better-informed decisions. These capabilities can help us prepare earlier and respond more effectively when disasters strike.
Resilience also depends on partnerships, trust and our collective ability to mobilise resources. The Global Resilience Hub is another important step towards strengthening Pakistan’s national resilience by bringing together key national and humanitarian stakeholders for greater coordination at the regional and global levels. NGT and the Global Resilience Hub can therefore serve as complementary elements of our evolving national resilience framework.
A resilient Pakistan must also integrate risk reduction into development planning. Homes, schools, roads and essential services must be planned and strengthened with an understanding of future risks. For ordinary citizens, this means safer places to live, learn and work and greater confidence that essential services can continue when communities face a disaster. Regional and global cooperation in early warning, scientific research, technological innovation and humanitarian assistance must also be strengthened.
On National Resilience Day, I call upon all institutions, communities and citizens to recognise resilience as a shared national responsibility. By combining the strength of our people with science, technology and sound planning, we can build a Pakistan better prepared for the uncertainties of tomorrow.
May Allah Almighty guide our efforts and protect our beloved homeland and its people.
Pakistan Zindabad!
