LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has asked the Punjab Emergency Service (PES) Rescue 1122 to submit a detailed programme for starting helicopter ambulance service in the province.

“A plan should be devised by keeping in view every aspect to start the helicopter ambulance service,” he said.

The chief minister was chairing a meeting of the Punjab Emergency Service here on Wednesday. He also convened a long overdue meeting of the Punjab Emergency Council next month.

“No PEC meeting during the last eight years is deplorable,” Mr Buzdar said, who is chairman of the council by virtue of his office.

The chief minister accorded approval to start Rescue Scout Training Programme in colleges adding that it should begin within next two months. The meeting decided to lift ban on hiring in the Punjab Emergency Service because it required human resources to deal with the emergency situations.

The meeting decided that the Rescue 1122 centers established at tehsil or sub-tehsils level should be made functional immediately.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2019