Four 1122 rescue centres with sophisticated equipment and highly trained professional staff will be operational in the city from next month. Station House Incharge, Rescue 1122, Adeel Aslam stated this, while talking to APP on Wednesday.
He claimed that the rescue centres in Punjab are the first of their kind in all of Asia and that Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi conceived the idea for these centres. The rescue centres functioning in Lahore have impressed the citizens with their sophisticated performance and the skill and efficacy of the staff.
Dr Muhammad Zafar, who is receiving training at Lahore these days, has been appointed as district emergency officer Multan. Adeel Aslam said he received six months diverse training in medical emergency, fire rescue, flood rescue, bomb blast rescue and building collapse rescue.
He said the rescue centres would function round the clock and as many as 300 personnel are being imparted a four-week practical training at the Emergency Ward in Nishtar Hospital. The four Rescue 1122 centres will be established at Kalima Chowk, Kumharanwala Chowk (main centre), Bahawalpur Bypass and Industrial Estate at an approximate cost of Rs 50 million.
A fifth centre may be set up at Muzaffarabad, if needed, he said. Dr Muhammad Fahim, director emergency ward, said that the rescue centres would be provided ten ambulances in the initial stage, with more provided later as needed.
He said the 300 rescuers have been given practical as well as theoretical training at Lahore and are now also being imparted practical training at Nishtar Hospital. Shahid Pervez, district officer Civil Defence, said that Chief Minister has launched the Rescue 1122 programme in a big way with generous funding for prompt and effective relief to people in distress.