Emergency Services Department (ESD) Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer has raised alarm over the escalating number of road traffic accidents, particularly those involving motorcycles, which accounted for 80% of the crashes.
He emphasised the importance of adhering to safety measures, urging motorbike riders to maintain a maximum speed of 50 km per hour in the left lane to curb accidents. He reassured the public of the 24/7 availability of rescue services but underscored the critical need for citizens to drive cautiously to prevent such tragedies on the roads.
The dire warning comes in the wake of shocking statistics revealing that 282 individuals lost their lives in 37,634 road traffic accidents reported in Punjab during March.
Dr. Naseer disclosed that a staggering total of 167,768 emergencies were reported across the province during the same period, with 162,681 victims affected.
During a monthly operational performance review meeting held at the Emergency Services Headquarters on Monday, attended by Regional Emergency Officers (REOs), District Emergency Officers (DEOs), and other officials via video link, the severity of the situation was thoroughly discussed.
All DEOs shared insights into the operational performance of their respective districts, highlighting major emergencies, challenges, case studies, lessons learned, and ongoing initiatives.
The meeting also shed light on the distribution of accidents across Punjab, with Lahore bearing the brunt of the fatalities, recording 8,220 accidents resulting in 36 deaths.
Other major districts affected included Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, and Rawalpindi.
Additionally, significant fire incidents were reported in Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2024.
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