The Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi has formally expanded the scope of Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) to all Tehsils of Punjab. CM Punjab handed over 75 new ambulances to Regional Emergency Officers (REOs) for commencing Rescue Service in the remaining 37 tehsils of Punjab. He expressed that after the establishment of the Emergency Service in all districts of Punjab, the expansion of Rescue 1122 had started in a phased manner, now its expansion process has been completed. CM Punjab expressed these views while presiding over a ceremony “expansion of emergency service to all tehsils of Punjab & distribution of ambulances” held at Emergency Services Academy here on Wednesday. The Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi graced the ceremony as Chief Guest while Chief Secretary Punjab Kamran Ali Afzal, and IG Punjab Police Faisal Shahkar adorned the occasion as Guests of honor. DG Emergency Services Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Reginal Emergency Officers, Districts Emergency Officers, senior officers from Rescue Headquarters, and Academy were also present at the ceremony. Addressing the ceremony, CM Punjab said that we started Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) in 2004 during his previous regime CM Punjab. Now, Rescue Service has rescued over 10 million emergency victims and its Fire & Rescue Service has so far responded to over 195000 fire emergencies and saved losses worth over Rs. 575billions with professional firefighting in the modern lines. The Emergency Services Academy has trained over 23,000 emergency personnel for all provinces of Pakistan since its inception. The Academy is providing technical assistance to all provinces of Pakistan. Rescue Academy also played a key role in the establishment of Rescue 1122 in other provinces by providing training. “I am feeling great pleasure to say that when we started Rescue 1122 before 18 years, and that time it was glanced to be impossible task. Now, Rescue 1122 is providing international level services to thousands people of Punjab on daily basis. The Rescue Service is available on doorsteps to everyone just on one-click after dialing 1122.
Not only Rescue 1122 has provided sense of safety to the citizen but also team of Emergency Services Academy gained honor for every Pakistani after securing first certification in South Asia from the United Nation. Now, Pakistan Rescue Team stands amongst first class team of the world, which is matter of great please for every Pakistani”. CM expressed that his relationship with Rescuers and Rescue 1122 is not political but a relation of heart. He always feels like a part of the ‘Rescue family’. I feel proud that Rescue 1122 is providing uninterrupted and exemplary services to the public with any discrimination of colour, race, and religion. Ch. Pervaiz Elahi praised the Rescuers for their meritorious services rendered during the recent corona epidemic when relatives were afraid to attend to their beloved ones. After providing illustrative services in the recent surge in Covid-19, Rescue 1122 has been rendering services to evacuate food-effected people in Rajanpur and DG Khan Flood areas since July 2022. Rescue 1122 is not only rescuing flood-affected people but also transporting their animals. CM explored who knows better than he about the challenges and difficulties faced by the management of Rescue during the last 18 years. Pervaiz Elahi paid rich tribute to the entire team of Rescue 1122 and DG PESD Dr. Rizwan Naseer who continued their mission to serve the suffering communities even in the most arduous situation. He announced Rescue Risk Allowance as per basic pay scale-2022 as when Rescue had been established. Rescue Service employees were given emergency incentives on one running basic pay, which was later frozen by and 50%cut and later on, rescuers remained deprived of any increase in salary due to it. He said, he would provide every possible support for the betterment of rescue1122. He advised the rescuers that every employee of this life-saving service would have remained a beacon of hope. Earlier, DG PESD Dr. Rizwan Naseer highlighted the operational performance of the Rescue Service and thanked Chief Minister Punjab for providing ambulances for remaining all tehsils of Punjab. He said that Rescue Service also would provide the best services in Punjab while maintaining its standards. He highlighted that rescuers always showed their dedication and commitment in challenging situations like recent hill torrents, urban floods, and during the corona pandemic when the relatives of corona patients were afraid. He stated that the role of Rescue 1122 as frontline during covid-19 and shifted to over 23000 corona patients, performed 4296 burials, and conducted 115993 disinfection of public places across Punjab. Dr Rizwan Naseer said that Rescuers always helped people in difficult and challenging situations and accepted every challenge when people are running away in fear of the incident site. He expressed his pleasure that the Rescue Service has been established across the boundary of Punjab. The ESA has so far trained over 23000 personnel in all provinces including the federal capital. He requested the CM Punjab, now; it is the need of the hour to “Rescue the Rescuer” and requested for long overdue demand of “rescue risk allowance”. He assure the CM Punjab that rescuers would never disappoint the nation and to serve the nation in every difficult time.
