MINGORA: MPA Azizullah Gran on Friday opened a Rescue 1122 station in Charbagh tehsil of Swat district.

Assistant commissioner, Charbagh, Hamid Khan was also present.

On the occasion, Mr Azizullah said the Rescue 1122 service meant to meet any emergency situation. “The establishment of Rescue 1122 is the one of the best initiatives taken by the provincial government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. The rescue service’s role in tackling and providing services during emergencies is exemplary,” he said.

He also visited different stalls set up by the Rescue 1122 officials on the occasion.

Seven Rescue 1122 stations have been set up in as many tehsils of Swat, including Saidu Sharif, Matta, Kabal, Barikot, Khwazakhela, Bahrain and Charbagh.

District emergency officer Imran Khan Yousafzai said that Rescue 1122 with the cooperation of the provincial government and the service’s director general for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr Khateer Ahmad Khan had launched services in 16 districts during the current year.

“The number of stations has been increased from 29 to 72, including the recently merged districts of Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand. Rescue 1122 is working on a comprehensive strategy to prevent public from coronavirus as well as actively provide services in emergencies on a daily basis,” he said.

He said the Rescue 1122 teams had so far shifted about 31 Covid-19 patients to hospitals during the coronavirus outbreak.

He said female medical technicians were also part of the rescue service, providing timely services to their gender.

Meanwhile, residents of Charbagh lauded the establishment of Rescue 1122 station.

“Charbagh is a populated tehsil, where people have to wait for the rescue personnel to come from Mingora to help in emergencies, which is time-consuming and often results in casualties,” local Bacha Jan said, adding the residents would now get quick rescue services in case of emergencies after the establishment of Rescue 1122 office in the tehsil.

The Rescue 1122 responds to emergencies like fire fighting, medical services, community help, bomb blasts, building collapses, road accidents, drowning incidents, relief operations and landslides.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2020