PESHAWAR, March 14: The inaugural meeting of Rescue 1122 council has approved the constitution of rescue boards at district level in the province with the concerned deputy commissioner in each district as its chairman, while district police officer, district health officer, district emergency officer and others will the board members.

The council meeting held at the CM Secretariat was presided over by its chairman and Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti here on Thursday.

Those who attended the meeting included MPAs Shagufta Malik, Malik Qasim Khan and Prince Javed; chief secretary; secretaries of home and tribal affairs, finance, health, local government, transport, and relief and rehabilitation besides director general of Provincial Environmental Protection Agency and other members of the council.

Rescue 1122 director general Dr Shamsul Haq gave a presentation on the objectives, services budget, overall performance of Rescue 1122, training being imparted to  the staff, power and functions of the rescue council and other relevant matters.

The meeting discussed matters related to the powers and foundations of the council, appointments to key posts, extension of Rescue 1122 services to other districts of the province, establishment of Rescue 1122 academy, constitution of district emergency boards, budget and other financial matters and took some decisions.

Mr Hoti said that the utility of rescue services had increased manifolds in the prevailing situation. He said that the provincial government had initially established Rescue 1122 in Peshawar and Mardan so that the loss of precious human lives could be minimised in case of calamities and other emergency situations.

He said that the rescue service was being extended to other parts of the province to facilitate people in the hour of need.

The meeting decided to constitute development committee of the council, headed by additional chief secretary, and finance committee, headed by provincial secretary finance, to look into the developmental and financial matters of Rescue 1122 before they were presented to the council for approval.

Constitution of two separate selection committees and criteria for appointments in BPS-16 and below and BPS-17 and above in Rescue 1122 were also approved in the meeting.