Maps
Magazine

LEGAL

SC Seeks Report on 2005 Earthquake Rehabilitation and Fund Audit
Supreme Court orders federal & provincial govts, ERA, and Auditor General to report on funds & rehabilitation for 2005 earthquake victims. 20 years later, where's the progress?
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-22
SC Seeks Report on 2005 Earthquake Rehabilitation and Fund Audit

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has sought a comprehensive report from the federal and provincial governments, the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERA), and the Auditor General of Pakistan on the rehabilitation of victims of the devastating 2005 earthquake.

The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition regarding the rehabilitation efforts, expressed concerns over the lack of progress despite nearly two decades having passed since the disaster.

Key Observations by the Court

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, during the hearing, raised pertinent questions about the government's efforts:

  • Housing Projects: He inquired about the number of houses constructed for the earthquake victims.
  • Economic Support: The court sought details of financial assistance provided to victims for restarting their businesses.

The petitioner highlighted that the government had announced plans for the construction of a New Balakot City but noted that no substantial progress had been made on the project.

ERA’s Claims Challenged

The ERA representative informed the court that over 14,000 projects had been completed for earthquake victims. However, Justice Mazhar remarked sharply, questioning the visibility of these efforts:
"Where are the projects that have been completed? Were the projects made for humans or for jinn?"

Call for Accountability

The court directed ERA, along with federal and provincial governments, to provide an audit report detailing the utilization of funds allocated for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims. The Auditor General of Pakistan was also instructed to assist in the evaluation of fund usage.

Historical Context

On October 8, 2005, a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck Azad Kashmir and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The disaster claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and caused significant infrastructure damage.

Pending Questions

As the 20th anniversary of the earthquake approaches in October 2025, the Supreme Court questioned whether a long-term 50-year rehabilitation plan exists, emphasizing the need for sustainable and effective efforts to address the victims’ plight.

Next Steps

The Constitutional Bench has adjourned the case for further proceedings after directing all relevant parties to submit their reports.
Tagged:

Earthquake2005

SCOrder

Rehabilitation

PakistanDisasterRelief
Share News: