Training more important than tributes
LAHORE: On Friday, May 4th, International Firefighters’ Day was observed in all districts of Punjab with seminars beings held and rallies being conducted to raise awareness and pay tribute to the work our unsung heroes do. The occasion was especially held to pay tribute to the ones who lost their lives in the line of duty.
However, while it is important to recognise the efforts of our firefighting community across Pakistan, it is equally important to identify the loopholes in the system. More often than not, the firefighters do not reach on time and are ill-equipped to perform the task they are hired to do. This doesn’t mean that they are incompetent but that they have not been provided with the right training and equipment and in fact even the skilled manpower to effectively perform their duty. And that is a matter of concern.
The governments in their respective provinces, not just in Punjab, should ensure that all the right facilities are provided than only paying tributes and holding seminars in the honour of the firefighters.
Waqar Pervez
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2018.
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