Rescue 1122 become a symbol of safety in emergency, Director General, Dr. Rizwan Naseer

Rescue 1122 become a symbol of safety in emergency, Director General, Dr. Rizwan Naseer

5th National Rescue Challenge held, Rawalpindi District secured second position

By.Asghar Ali Mubarak

Rawalpindi ….The 5th National Rescue Challenge was concluded at Emergency Services Academy, Lahore, on Thursday. The Executive Director National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Mr. Zulfiqar Cheema was the Chief Guest. While congratulating the participants of the 5th National Rescue Challenge, Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), Dr. Rizwan Naseer said that Rescue 1122 has become a symbol of safety in case of any nature of emergency, with average response time of seven minutes. He said that it was an opportunity for all emergency services of Pakistan to enhance their professional skills, where Rescue 1122 is providing comprehensive emergency care to the victims of emergencies, there, other emergency services of districts and other provinces can also enhance their capacity and professional skills. He said that it was not the game of losing or winning rather we had tried to create a sense of competition among rescuers of different districts.
The Director General, ESA Brig. (R) Amir Hamza, Event Supervisor Dr. Muhammad Farhan Khalid, Provincial Monitoring Officer, Mian Riffat Zia, DD (HR) Dr. Foaad Shahzad Mirza, and other rescue officers were present on this occasion. The District Emergency Services Gujranwala won the 5th National Rescue Challenge, followed by District Rawalpindi, which secured 2nd while District Rahim Yar Khan obtained 3rd position. Total 14 Rescue Teams from Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhaw, Baluchistan, Rescue Wardens from Sialkot and Lahore University participated in seven challenges including Trauma, Fire Fit, Water Rescue, Swimming, Deep Well Rescue and Height Rescue Challenges, which were evaluated in accordance with the international standards of emergency management through difficult emergency scenarios and situations. The main purpose of conducting this Challenge was to encourage the emergency services across the country in order to enhance their professional skills and competencies to meet new challenges resulting from increasing number of emergencies.
Mr. Zulfiqar Cheema said that Dr. Rizwan Naseer created Rescue 1122 from scratches & molded it into an international institute. He said before establishment of Rescue 1122, there were multiple departments going directionless. “Now, Rescue Teams approach operation-site and manage rescue operation in professional manner,” he said, adding Rescuers are passionate and committed with their job. He also pledged that NAVTTC will conduct training of drivers and will provide trained drivers to Rescue Fleet.
DG ESA Brig. (R) Amir Hamza, while congratulating the winner team, said that all the participants demonstrated their professional skills enthusiastically and he hoped that they will play same role while responding to emergencies in future. He said Emergency Services Academy was the platform where rescuers from different districts came and shared their experiences with each other.