KARACHI, Oct 19: The Edhi Foundation has commissioned its recently acquired fleet of 20 boats for rescue and emergency operations.

"The fleet named as Edhi Marine Service will be used in rescue operations in the coastal region of Sindh and Balochistan," said Rizwan Edhi, a senior official of the Foundation.

He said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that a non-governmental organization acquired such a fleet of rescue boats.

The Foundation has spent five million rupees on these boats, which were imported from China.

Senior official of the Foundation, Faisal Edhi had purchased these boats at "Boat Show" held in the city of Canton a few months back. The boats fitted with Japanese engines are equipped with public announcement system, wireless sets and search lights. Each boat can be lifted by four men on their shoulders. The boats would not require a jetty to descent into the sea, but could be pushed into the sea from any beach, Mr Rizwan added.

He said that the recently launched Edhi Emergency Medical Service in ambulances can also be used in these boats for any medical emergency at sea.

Referring to the application of the boats, Rizwan Edhi said that the boats were ideal in the situations of floods and storms. With the commissioning of these boats rescue of the drowning victims would become easier and more lives could be saved, he remarked.