Disaster management: G-B to raise 100,000 volunteers

The MoU was signed by PRCS provincial secretary and KIU volunteers’ convener on the International Volunteer Day at KIU

GILGIT:

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and Karakoram International University (KIU) on Friday signed an agreement to raise a force of 100,000 volunteers in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

“The agreement has been signed following the directives of President Mamnoon Hussain,” said PRCS Gilgit spokesperson Safdar Khan, adding the force will carry out disaster management and rescue operations during natural disasters.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by PRCS provincial secretary Noorulain and KIU volunteers’ convener Professor Manzoor Ali on the International Volunteer Day at KIU.

“PRCS has decided to extend the campaign to other areas of the country and increase the number of volunteers to five million by 2016,” said Noorulain while addressing the ceremony. She added the campaign will help channel the efforts of those who wish to become active participants of the society.

Noorulain said educational institutions including the University of Punjab (UoP), Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOP), Roots School System have already been looped in and invitations to other leading schools, colleges and universities are on the cards.

The PRCS provincial secretary said that KIU volunteers will be provided basic training on emergency response, first aid, disaster management and humanitarian efforts in order to equip them with the necessary skills and expertise.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2014.