IN a major step towards providing immediate help to those faced with any emergency like situation, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the PM Delivery Unit to set up a national emergency helpline. It will be a toll free number and reportedly a separate network would be established for the helpline, accessible from across the country and all emergency helpline numbers would be linked to the new system.
The decision has been taken in the backdrop of gang rape of a woman in front of her children on Lahore-Sialkot Motorway on September 9 as she waited for help after her car ran out of fuel. This horrific rape incident is very much fresh in the minds of the people and they want exemplary punishment such as the public hanging for the culprits in order to avert such despicable incidents in future. As regards the decision of setting up a National Helpline is concerned, it is indeed a step in the right direction but it must be ensured that such a foolproof system is developed where not only the calls of the people are listened to but also provide them with immediate response and help. For this purpose, there should be a close coordination amongst the different departments be it the police, the rescue service or the local administration. All the important departments must be fully integrated with this helpline through a state of the art automated system in such a manner that response is generated forthwith. It should not be only motorway or highway-specific helpline but its scope should be much wider. Anybody seeking help from any location including his/her place of residence, the help must reach him/her. It will only then be called a national helpline. A monitoring system should also be developed in order to check the response time and performance of these departments and those failing in their duties must be taken to task. Most importantly, Parliament must fulfil its responsibility vis-à-vis legislation envisaging strict punishment for those involved in rape and child abuse cases. No mercy should be shown towards such criminals as they are a scar on the face of our society.
