Neglect and Unfulfilled Promises: Jamil Maqsood Critiques PoJK's Earthquake Response

Jamil Maqsood of the UKPNP criticizes PoJK authorities for failing to rebuild infrastructure nearly two decades after the 2005 quake. Despite promises, essential services like schools and hospitals remain in disrepair, leaving many residents reliant on external aid and highlighting ongoing government neglect.

The President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP), Jamil Maqsood, has voiced significant concerns over the inadequacies of the government's response to the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

Maqsood criticized the authorities for their lack of action in rebuilding critical infrastructure and educational facilities. Despite near two decades having elapsed, the region's rehabilitation remains incomplete, with schools and hospitals still in ruins.

He highlighted that thousands of students continue to learn in temporary shelters, while many healthcare facilities are yet to be reconstructed, exacerbating the challenges faced by poverty-stricken communities.

Similarly, the destruction of homes and transportation networks has left many residents struggling to rebuild, often through inadequate government assistance. Maqsood pointed out that large segments of the population have depended on private donations due to a lack of support from PoJK's administration.

The Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) has been criticized for failing to fulfill its promise to reconstruct housing and educational projects in PoJK.

Maqsood lamented the ongoing neglect by successive governments, which he argues, is evident from insufficient funding and a lack of political will to prioritize the region's recovery needs. This situation continues to pose a threat to the future of young generations, where educational setbacks remain a pressing concern.

(With inputs from agencies.)