LAHORE, Dec 7: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has convened the first-ever meeting of the Punjab Emergency Council on Saturday as council chairman.

The emergency data will be presented to the council by the Rescue 1122 to highlight causes of emergencies and hazards endangering the public safety.

The council will recommend appropriate measures for the prevention of emergencies.

The council has been constituted through the Punjab Emergency Service Act 2006 for monitoring and prevention of emergencies through the improved coordination among departments concerned and agencies working for management of emergencies.

Council members are the Punjab chief secretary, four MPAs — Ansar Iqbal Beryar, Ghulam Haider Barri, Farida Rafique Sulehri and Samiullah Khan, secretaries of health, home, local government and transport departments, IGP, the provincial environmental protection agency DG, the provincial relief commissioner and the Punjab Ambulance Services DG.

Jinnah Hospital MS Dr Zahid Pervaiz will represent government teaching hospitals in the council. Terming establishment of the council a historic initiative, PMS DG Dr Rizwan Naseer said the provincial government had introduced an effective system through legislation for management and prevention of emergencies.