Socio-Economic Impacts Of Earthquake In Ziarat District Of Balochistan
Keywords:
Earthquake; Socio-economic impacts; Ziarat, BalochistanAbstract
Pakistan is one of those countries that is vulnerable to different serious types of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and drought. . The earthquake not only causes deaths, physical disabilities but it also damage to the infrastructure and cause economic loss. It causes long-lasting mental health impacts on individuals. The aim of the study is to identify the impact of the devastating earthquake of 2008 on the socio-economic aspects of district Ziarat, Balochistan. To examine the socio-economic impacts of the earthquake, primary and secondary data were collected through different sources. Results showed that 2008 Ziarat’s earthquake caused tremendous damage and loss. This catastrophic earthquake was followed by hundreds of aftershocks. Consequently, it jolted the communities of Ziarat. Government of Balochistan should provide pre-disaster strategies to save infrastructure and the lives of people. Government needs to stimulate stakeholders to participate to the reconstruction of government offices, schools and colleges, and damaged houses to enhance the socio-economic conditions of the effects. Apart from this, the government must devise a holistic strategy to implement the building codes so that the region should remain safe when a disaster hits the region in the future. Last but not least, the federal and provincial government require to come up with an effective policy to reconstruct the abolished houses and buildings in district Ziarat. In the meantime, the earthquake victims need to be rehabilitated physically and psychologically. In this regard, both the government and non-governmental organizations can intervene the communities based on research findings.
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