Northern Pakistan was destroyed by a once in a lifetime earthquake in 2005, when the tectonic plates below the Eurasian and Indian sub-continent collided and breached the earth. Pakistan administered Kashmir and Muzaffarabad, together with Northern areas of Balakot suffered hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries and millions in displacement. On Oct 8, 2024, we look back at the tragedy and the lessons taught of living away from quake zones and building homes and offices that can be quake proof.