SIALKOT: Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has announced establishment of its respond cells in more than 100 cities in the country, starting from Sialkot, for providing emergency relief services to the masses.

PRCS Chairman Dr. Saeed Elahi made the announcement while addressing a meeting of the local business community held at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Tuesday.

He said: “We are going to take an initiative to kick-start respond cells for emergencies in more than 100 cities of the country in order to provide quick relief to the people.”

The PRCS chairman said he had negotiated with the federal education minister to introduce a chapter of PRCS in the syllabus of all educational institutions.

He said the society provided food, drinking water and health facilities to more than 8,000 families of internally displaced persons in Bannu.

He hailed the socio-economic development of the city on a self-help basis by the Sialkot business community. “The SCCI is a trendsetter and has set a good example for other chambers of commerce and industry in this regard.”

SCCI President Dr. Sarfraz Bashir announced developing a close liaison between the chamber and the society to tackle various issues.

He appreciated the role of PRCS since the inception of Pakistan and said it had been helping people without any discrimination.

PRCS Secretary-General retired Brig Dr Mehboob Sardar gave a detailed briefing about the function, history, role, challenges and working structure of the society in Pakistan. He urged the business community to help PRCS alleviate problems of the people.

One of the members of SCCI suggested the PRCS chairman to establish fund-raising boxes at all shopping malls.

In the end, the SCCI president presented a shield to the PRCS chairman.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014