LAHORE, Dec 12: Civil Defence Organisation continues to be denied its due priority and necessary funds for updating its machinery and equipment.

The local bodies were required to allocate one per cent of their budget for civil defence under the provisions of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance, 1969, but stopped doing so in the 1970s. Even the provision does not exist in the 2001 ordinance with the result that the district governments replacing the local bodies stand absolved of the responsibility of providing funds for civil defence.

Importance of civil defence was realized during the 1965 war for the first time. The organization was created and organized not only in all the districts but also at the provincial and federal level. Funds were also provided for training volunteers, acquisition and maintenance of equipment for bomb disposal, fire-fighting, rescue and first aid. It was also decided to use the service of the civil defence volunteers for flood relief operations.

The organization continued to receive funds for remaining active for several years after the 1965 and 1971 wars and organized air raid rescue demonstrations on Defence of Pakistan Day regularly. It became inactive gradually due to denial of due attention and funds with the passage of time. It had been reduced only to the regular employees in most of the cities when need for their reactivation was felt during the escalation of hostility on the borders earlier this year.

Lahore Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood pointed out at a meeting at the Jinnah Hall that around 9,000 volunteers had deserted the organization due to lack of attention. The concrete shelters proposed to be built for taking refuge in the event of air raids after the 1965 war were yet to be built. The provision for building a basement in every house for use as shelter during air raids existed only in building bylaws. He promised Rs5 million on behalf of the city government and asked the towns and union councils to spare funds for revamping the organization.

The organization, however, could not be activated because none of the administrations provided it the promised funds promptly due to gradual easing of border tension.

The city government advertised for recruitment of volunteers promising free uniforms and training but had a disappointing response as only a few hundred young men came forward for joining the volunteer force. The organization was then asked to recruit volunteers with the help of union council Nazimeen and train them.

The Lahore Civil Defence Organization has increased the number of registered volunteers to around 8,000 besides getting uniforms for 2,200 male and 300 female volunteers. It has also acquired new fire-fighting, bomb disposal, first aid and flood rescue equipment worth Rs5 million but the city government is yet to make payments for them.

The organization still requires at least one ambulance and a fire-fighting vehicle for each of the six towns, transport vehicles and motorcycles for its staff but has no funds. The organization has only 12 divisional offices at Shahdara, Badami Bagh, Moghalpura, Misri Shah, Lahore Cantonment, Gulberg, Model Town, Samanabad and Civil Lines. The Nazimeen of 150 union councils have promised to provide one room in their offices for establishing the civil defence warden posts but the organization has yet to be established at the level. The union council Nazimeen have also to pay Rs100,000 each for the civil defence as promised by the district Nazim.