I HAD a shocking experience that I would like to share with readers in the hope that my concerns reach the concerned authorities to initiate corrective measures that will save lives.

Emergency response numbers around the world are standard numbers which are applicable across the country; the caller only has to dial one number and the operator directs the call depending on the nature of the emergency and sometimes provides immediate advice as well on how to handle the situation while the help arrives.

Last night I had to call 1122owing to an emergency in my neighbourhood in Islamabad. I dialled 1122 from my mobile phone sim (purchased and registered in Islamabad) and was pleasantly surprised when the call was responded to on just the second bell.

However, when I started to tell my address, I received the shock of my life when the operator told me that this was 1122 Murree and I should switch to another network to contact 1122 Islamabad.

I tried to persuade the gentleman to convey my message to the concerned department but, the gentleman politely told me that this was not in his jurisdiction. Luckily, my wife has a mobile phone of another network, so I asked her to dial 1122 from her telephone and she was connected to the Islamabad office. But then she was asked to call the fire brigade.

I fail to understand how the same number dialled through different networks connects to a different city.

There should be a standard control room and regardless of the type of network, the call should be connected to the control room which should connect the caller to the concerned department instead of making the caller switch networks.

I must mention that ultimately the response of the fire brigade was good. However, the telephone companies and the government/ regulatory authorities should look into this serious anomaly.

Cdr Dr Azhar Ahmad

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2015

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