KARACHI, July 19: More than 100 trained lifeguards of the Pakistan Aquatic Life Saving started operation along the Sandspit to Hawkesbay coastline area on Sunday to help the public on the beaches.

PALS President Reza Samad said here on Monday that at first the lifeguards would be on duty on every Sunday and public holidays only. Eventually, when sponsorship sources were secured, the lifeguards would be positioned throughout the week.

He said that over 250 people drowned along the beaches of Karachi and that these were totally avoidable deaths if a fully-functional lifeguard facility was available. He added that PALS had been working with the support of the city government and the Pakistan Navy.

PALS had invited the Surf Life Saving New Zealand to help train lifeguards in accordance with international standards conducted during June, he said, adding that 200 people were trained by the New Zealand delegation.

He said that PALS would organize Beach Education programmes to educate school and college students on beach safety. This programme would also include swimming lessons for the students.

He said that PALS was looking at employing around 130-150 trained lifeguards from the coastal village communities. This would serve two key issues for the city. One, it would be providing service for the safety for the public and, second, it would help alleviate poverty in the coastal fishing villages, he added. - PPI