Rescue 1122: Disaster awareness day commemorated

The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) commemorated the National Disaster Awareness Day on Wednesday to remember the devastating earthquake of 2005. In this regard, in a message to rescuers of all 36 districts of Punjab and other provinces, Punjab Emergency Service Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer said learning lessons from past tragedies is essential to prepare for them in the future. Establishment of a land use and building control authority is the need of the hour to ensure safe construction and avoid such disasters in the future, he said. Naseer further informed that the rescue service is establishing community emergency response teams at the union council levels in all districts of the province. After enrollment, the volunteers are trained in community action for disaster response and community-based disaster risk reduction. Furthermore, the service also undertakes evidence-based research on the number and nature of emergencies to recommend measures for their prevention.


Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2014.