Islamabad:National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) observed National Resilience Day 2026 on Thursday, commemorating the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005 and paying tribute to those who lost their lives, the survivors and all individuals and institutions who contributed to rescue, relief and recovery efforts.
The day serves as a reminder of the lessons of the 2005 earthquake and reaffirms Pakistan's commitment to strengthening preparedness, reducing disaster risks and building resilience against an increasingly complex hazard landscape.
The ceremony was attended by Federal Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Moeen Wattoo, senior representatives of Federal Ministries, Provincial departments, academia, military services, diplomats, heads of partner humanitarian organizations, philanthropists and media.
Addressing the ceremony, Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik said that National Resilience Day is not only about remembering the past, but also about preparing for the future. He emphasized the need to translate lessons from past disasters into stronger preparedness, early warning and anticipatory action.
The Chairman highlighted the transformation of Pakistan's disaster management system from a predominantly response-oriented approach towards anticipation, preparedness and timely action, supported by technology, data and scientific risk information.
The development of Next Generation Technology (NGT) at NDMA represents another important step in this transformation, supporting advanced analytics, predictive modelling and emerging technologies to anticipate risks and provide timely, actionable information for decision-making.
Federal Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Moeen Wattoo highlighted Pakistan's growing institutional capacity and experience in disaster risk management. He observed that Pakistan's disaster management systems and institutional experience are increasingly serving as a source of learning for other countries.
He further highlighted the close link between water security, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction, stressing the importance of integrating these priorities into national development planning as Pakistan faces increasing risks from floods, droughts and changing climatic patterns.
On the occasion of National Resilience Day 2026, NDMA reaffirmed that resilience is a shared national responsibility, requiring the collective efforts of government institutions, communities, emergency services, academia, humanitarian partners, the private sector and civil society.
NDMA reaffirmed its commitment to moving from reaction to anticipation, from vulnerability to preparedness, and from recovery to resilient development.
The Authority called upon all institutions, communities and citizens to contribute towards building a safer, stronger and more resilient Pakistan.