Rescue 1122 expands service to AJK districts

It meets longstanding demand of the people of Rawalakot and Hattian Bala districts

MUZZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has expanded emergency rescue service 1122 up to Rawalakot and Hattian Bala districts of Azad Kashmir.

Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan inaugurated the service by handing over the keys of state-of- the-art firefighter and disaster rescue vehicles to the officials of the two districts.

The inaugural ceremony held at Prime Minister House was attended by Secretary Civil Defence, Bashir Mughal, Especial Secretary Prime Minister Secretariat Ejaz Ahmed Khan and other senior government officials.

PM Haider highlighted the role Rescue 1122 played in responding to emergencies and disaster incidents in different areas of Azad Kashmir. “The service in two new districts will help save the lives of people and provide them relief in case of any emergency,” he said

“The Civil Defence Department of the government has launched a development scheme of Rs159.657 million to provide two ambulances and two firefighter vehicles for Rawalakot and Jehlum valley to meet any emergency and disaster related incident,” the PM said.

He said that the rescue 1122 service was a long time demand of the people of Jehlum Valley, where many disasters and emergencies took human lives due to absence of facilities.

Earlier, addressing an Iftar Dinner hosted in his honour by the members of the Central Press Club Muzaffarabad, he said, “AJK constitution was amended to empower the people of Azad Kashmir and only time will tell whether it was right or wrong step taken by his government.”

The PM emphasised that he does not need to get certificate of loyalty with Pakistan from anybody. He invited the opposition political parties, members of civil society and media to evaluate constitutional reforms carried out by his government.

Haider added that the constitutional reforms introduced by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government are being hailed on both sides of LoC as he received many congratulatory messages from Indian occupied Kashmir.

The constitutional reforms and new financial, administrative and political powers will help the state to achieve self-reliance, which will lead to more prosperity for the people of Azad Jamuu and Kashmir.