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The Day our lives changed forever ...

I don’t think we’ll ever be able to forget Hina and Nayha. They will always live forever in our hearts and we shall always remember them in our memories. As a tribute to who they were, I have started an NGO in their name so I will be able to always remember them and I know my sister would have done nothing less for me. Hina and Nayha Disaster Services, Pakistan (HANDS, Pakistan) is a tribute to my sister and niece who have inspired me to make a difference in lives of those who need and deserve better preparedness from calamities like earthquakes.

The day after funeral it hit me really hard that there are so many people who are still buried under the rubble that have no help to rescue them from the jaws of death. How can the country I love be so under prepared for such calamity? On the news there was nothing but misery. This was the moment of awakening for me that this life could end just like that. As a human being, I can’t rewrite the fate of what Allah has already written for all of us, however, we can at least understand and learn from our experiences and change the future by being ready for disasters. The destruction of Margalla towers was no accident. As time would prove, poor construction techniques, substandard materials, bribery and corruption of the involved individuals took the very lives of so many and destroyed so many families forever. The damage to all our lives was so immense that it simply won’t heal. I will never forget my learning from this experience and have made a promise to change the way we live so future generations don’t have to face what our family encountered ...

Before The Earthquake Strikes
Protect Your Property
During An Earthquake
After The Earthquake


Research has shown that most injuries in (U.S study) earthquakes occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave. Quickly seeking a place of safety, such as under a sturdy table or desk, and moving as short a distance as possible to that place of safety, is recommended based on research.

Other recommendations, which are contrary to the DROP, COVER and HOLD ON advice, have been made by individuals with limited expertise and questionable credibility. Practice DROP, COVER and HOLD ON at school, in the office, and other buildings so that when the earth shakes, you’ll be ready.


It was 5:45am the morning of October 8th, 2005. My wife Cristina was busy preparing sehri for me when she answered the phone: Nameer, “its Farid bhai on the phone and its important.” I got on the phone immediately, only to hear my brother, Sameer, inform me of the tragedy that has stuck our family. His exact words I’ll never forget: “Nameer there was an earthquake in Islamabad and the building Hina lived in Margalla towers has fallen down.”That very moment I knew something really bad had happened. I inquired if Hina, my sister, was in the building and Sameer said yes, “Hina and Nahya were in the building”. That was the true turning point in my life. I have never in my life thought that I would be in a situation like this. I immediately turned the TV on and saw images of Margalla towers on the Geo news channel. That moment the true reality of the calamity hit home. There are no words that could describe what happened next.

Hina was the center of gravity for our family. She had an amazing God gifted personality. Anyone who has ever met Hina among family or friends would tell you that she was the one who kept us going and energized. A woman full of life, always laughing and making others laugh. A spiritually devoted individual who not only lived what she preached but also inspired everyone around her. Hina truly was a great person and a devout Muslim. Those who knew her closely truly found out first hand as we all shared our stories of her after she had passed away. I always knew of her place in the mind of my great father Hafiz Mohammad Islam Ameen. She was an integral part in his life. I use to give people example of my father and my sisters relationship that I would like to have a daughter because daughters are very special and precious as they take care of their old dad’s like no other in the world. Unfortunately that image changed forever. Our family has suffered a loss beyond words. My only sister, whom we all loved dearly, departed our lives in such traumatic manner that none of us will ever be able to understand. It is said that Allah never gives his people more burden then they could handle, but if you ask me, in this case, Allah has truly given me more then I can handle. Some times I think maybe I feel this way because maybe my belief is not as strong as it should be, but God knows that I am going to miss my sister. I have never felt this kind of pain in my life. I can’t stop crying, God knows that I am going to miss my sister….I guess I never realized how much she meant to me until I lost her. Hina was very special. She touched so many lives in way very few people I know could. She always lectured me to pray and be a good Muslim, as she herself was busy fulfilling all her own religious obligation like there is no tomorrow. May be she knew her fate. She meant a world to a lot of people I know, for them the world has changed for ever.

Nayha, my niece, born surprisingly on my Valima January 9th, 1997 held a special place in my heart. She was truly special, like my sister, with whom she shared a striking resemblance. Nayha was very special from the beginning; being the last one born in the Khan family she held her spot quite well. She was a very lively kid that energized your soul. A kid that would steal your heart in a heart beat. She was a kid that was smart and possessed an ability to capture your love and attention no matter what. A darling of her father’s heart, you know she was the one who could melt Farid Zia’s heart like no other kid has ever done before. I found out after she passed away that she was the one that kept her father going. They cooked together, read and watched cartoons together.

The day after funeral it hit me really hard that there are so many people who are still buried under the rubble that have no help to rescue them from the jaws of death. How can the country I love be so under prepared for such calamity? On the news there was nothing but misery. This was the moment of awakening for me that this life could end just like that. As a human being, I can’t rewrite the fate of what Allah has already written for all of us, however, we can at least understand and learn from our experiences and change the future by being ready for disasters. The destruction of Margalla towers was no accident. As time would prove, poor construction techniques, substandard materials, bribery and corruption of the involved individuals took the very lives of so many and destroyed so many families forever. The damage to all our lives was so immense that it simply won’t heal. I will never forget my learning from this experience and have made a promise to change the way we live so future generations don’t have to face what our family encountered.


I don’t think we’ll ever be able to forget Hina and Nayha. They will always live forever in our hearts and we shall always remember them in our memories. As a tribute to who they were, I have started an NGO in their name so I will be able to always remember them and I know my sister would have done nothing less for me. Hina and Nayha Disaster Services, Pakistan (HANDS, Pakistan) is a tribute to my sister and niece who have inspired me to make a difference in lives of those who need and deserve better preparedness from calamities like earthquakes.
 
 
     
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