Better safe than sorry: ‘People should know how to handle a fire sensibly’
Free ten day training for civil defence available.
LAHORE:
International Civil Defence day was observed in the city on Thursday. The slogan this year was Civil Defence and Domestic Accidents.
Two events were organised to mark the day. The first event, organised by the District Officer CD, was a walk from Nasser Bagh to Town Hall. Students, volunteers and officials of the city district government participated. The participants were holding placards and banners bearing public safety messages. A camp was also set up on The Mall to distribute pamphlets.
District Officer Civil Defense Qari Alam Sher said currently there were 6,000 volunteers registered with Civil Defence, out of which 500 were active. He urged more people to join. He said they were facing an acute shortage of funds.
DO Sher said they needed the latest equipment so they could respond to any emergency. He said that since the 10-day training at Civil Defence was free every one should get basic training.
A second event was held at the Federal Civil Defence Training School where demonstrations were held to apprise the public about minor errors that could turn into catastrophes. A seminar, arranged by Commandant Malik Liaquat, was also held at the Civil Defence Training School. The guest of honor was Industrial Estate chairman Chaudhry Iftikhar Bashir.
Commandant Liaquat said that media was not giving Civil Defence its due importance. He said every year around 1,200 people were trained. He encouraged students to get trained.
He said people spend thousands of rupees on items but fail to buy a fire extinguisher. He said a small fire could turn into an inferno and people should deal with such situations sensibly instead of panicking. Commandant Liaquat added that many offices had fire extinguishers but people there did not know how to operate them.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2012.
International Civil Defence day was observed in the city on Thursday. The slogan this year was Civil Defence and Domestic Accidents.
Two events were organised to mark the day. The first event, organised by the District Officer CD, was a walk from Nasser Bagh to Town Hall. Students, volunteers and officials of the city district government participated. The participants were holding placards and banners bearing public safety messages. A camp was also set up on The Mall to distribute pamphlets.
District Officer Civil Defense Qari Alam Sher said currently there were 6,000 volunteers registered with Civil Defence, out of which 500 were active. He urged more people to join. He said they were facing an acute shortage of funds.
DO Sher said they needed the latest equipment so they could respond to any emergency. He said that since the 10-day training at Civil Defence was free every one should get basic training.
A second event was held at the Federal Civil Defence Training School where demonstrations were held to apprise the public about minor errors that could turn into catastrophes. A seminar, arranged by Commandant Malik Liaquat, was also held at the Civil Defence Training School. The guest of honor was Industrial Estate chairman Chaudhry Iftikhar Bashir.
Commandant Liaquat said that media was not giving Civil Defence its due importance. He said every year around 1,200 people were trained. He encouraged students to get trained.
He said people spend thousands of rupees on items but fail to buy a fire extinguisher. He said a small fire could turn into an inferno and people should deal with such situations sensibly instead of panicking. Commandant Liaquat added that many offices had fire extinguishers but people there did not know how to operate them.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2012.