Like rest of the world, the Universal Civil Defence Day was observed across Azad Jammu Kashmir with the renewal of the pledge to strengthen this sector for the sake of serving the country whenever required to meet any challenge. Special ceremonies were held in all the 8 districts of the liberated territory including Mirpur under the auspices of the AJK Civil Defence Department to observe the day.
In Mirpur, major ceremony to observe the day was held at Quaid-e-Azam Stadium here Monday morning. AJK Minister for Civil Defence Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail was the chief guest on the occasion. Besides the chief guest, the ceremony was also attended by Secretary Civil Defence Fiyyaz Ali Abbasi, Director Civil Defence Muhammad Sarwar Afridi, Additional Chief Warden Civil Defence Mirpur Khawaja Zaffar Iqbal and others.
The global civil defence day was marked by a grand demonstration by the civil defence volunteers at the stadium besides a walk from Quaid-e-Azam Stadium to Shaheed Chowk to raise awareness among the masses about the importance of civil defence through the participation of its volunteers from all segments of the civil society for the safety of men and material in war and peace times as well as in case of any other accidental or natural catastrophe.
Besides, a large number of civil defence volunteers, the volunteers of upcoming 1122 rescue service, workers of the municipal corporation and other nation-building departments were present on the occasion.
Addressing the ceremony, speakers including Minister for Civil Defence Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail, Secretary Civil Defence Fiyyaz Ali Abbasi, Director Civil Defence Muhammad Sarwar Afridi, Additional Chief Warden Civil Defence Mirpur Khawaja Zaffar Iqbal and others said that the global civil defence day was being observed throughout the world in line with the charter of the United Nations aimed at raising awareness among the masses to deal with any eventuality in case of any emergent situation.
They said that in view of the importance of the civil defence to deal with any eventuality, government was taking effective steps to raise awareness among various segments of the civil society including students for getting the civil defence training so that they could also extend their due share for serving the country, whenever required.
Referring to the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake in Northern Kashmir, the speakers said, had there been sufficient civil defence arrangements for rescue, there would have been lesser loss of men and material due to the history's worst natural catastrophe. The speakers said that this tragedy had highlighted the importance of the role of the civil defence to deal with any emergent situation.
On the occasion, Minister Muhammad Ismail and other Civil Defence officials gave away certificates of appreciation and prizes to the civil defence volunteers in recognition of their meritorious services to the nation and the country at the time of any of the emergent situation. Students, teachers, journalists and other government officials largely attended the ceremony.