KARACHI: The city administration has decided to modernise the helpline ‘Rescue 1299’, a centralised coordination service for rescue operations in the city in emergencies, it emerged on Friday.

Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani told media at his office that efforts were on to make the performance of the city administration’s helpline more effective. “The helpline will be linked with a mobile phone application ‘Siren’ which could be used by people to give information about any emergency and seek assistance”, he added.

He said that the mobile app was developed by a private concern and it would help improve the efficiency of the helpline.

The commissioner said that federal, provincial and private organisations would work under Rescue 1299 for coordinated relief and rescue activities as and when required.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2019