KARACHI, Nov 7: City Chief Fire Officer Kazim Ali and his deputy Naeem Yusuf called on City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal here on Monday and presented him the commendation certificates awarded to the CDGK Fire Department’s rescue teams by the federal government and armed forces in recognition of their services in Islamabad and other areas following the October 8 earthquake.

The CCFO informed the city nazim that his team had rescued many people during their operations at Margalla Tower (Islamabad) and other quake-hit areas besides pulling out 76 bodies from under the rubbles.

He also made mention of the great success in rescuing two women Mah Bibi and Mrs Tariq who had been pulled out of rubble after digging was carried out with the help of heavy machinery and equipment.

The city nazim appreciated the rescue team’s performance and said that a number of decisions had now been taken to ensure further improvement in the rescue services. He said that the fire department’s capabilities would be upgraded and it would be equipped with modern means. In this regard, he directed DO Civil Defence Shoaib Waqar to take action at the earliest.

Chairman of the Capital Development Authority Kamran Lashari has also hailed the prompt and exemplary support extended to the Islamabad administration by the CDGK’s fire department.

In a commendation letter addressed to city nazim, he acknowledged that the timely provision of technical and manual assistance by the department had helped save many lives.—APP/PPI