The Punjab Emergency Service Department (PESD) Rescue 1122 observed 8th October as the “National Resilience Day” across Punjab to pay homage to all those souls who lost their lives, got injured and were displaced in the devastating earthquake of 2005 in Pakistan.
On special directions of Director General PESD Dr Rizwan Naseer, rallies, walks, awareness seminars and training workshops were organised in all districts of Punjab to highlight national resolve for preparedness and the journey from the 2005 earthquake to the development of a world-class Rescue 1122- Emergency Management System, which is a model for South Asia.
Director-General Punjab Emergency Services Department Dr Rizwan Naseer addressed the participants of 19 teams of 10th National Rescue Challenge from all provinces of Pakistan and senior officers at Rescue Headquarters and Academy.
Speaking on the occasion, he prayed for Shuhada of the 8th October Earthquake and expressed his solidarity with the Earthquake’s victims & their families.
He recalled the helplessness of 8th October 2005 and then briefed about Emergency Services reforms, which have been carried out in Punjab, KPK and Gilgit-Baltistan provinces of Pakistan as a result of which the first professionally trained Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) was established in Pakistan in 2004 and gradually evolved into an integrated emergency services model for South Asia.
He expressed great satisfaction for developing resilience in the country as today Rescue Service has rescued over 9.9 million victims of emergencies, trained over 20,000 emergency personnel from all provinces of Pakistan and established Community Emergency Response Teams in all Union Councils of Punjab to improve emergency preparedness and safety promotion.
It is also a great honour for the Country that the Pakistan Rescue Team of Emergency services Academy has become the first United Nations INSARAG certified Team in South Asia.
A delegation comprising of 21 members from Alkidamt Foundation headed by Ikramul Haq Subhani, President Punjab visited Emergency Services Headquarters to present a bouquet to the Founder of Emergency Services in Pakistan Dr Rizwan Naseer in recognition of his valuable services to establish a comprehensive model of emergency management system in Pakistan and making the country resilient through the tireless challenging journey from 2005 Earthquake to United Nations INSARAG certification.
