Rescue 1122 — two decades of dedication and innovation

Over the past two decades, Emergency Services Rescue 1122 has emerged as a beacon of hope in Pakistan, providing critical assistance to millions of victims across the country. From medical emergencies to natural disasters, this integrated emergency services of ambulance, fire & rescue, disaster response, and community emergency response teams have played a pivotal role in saving lives and making the communities the disaster resilient. Founded in 2004 in Lahore, Rescue 1122 has expanded its operations to cover all districts and tehsils of Punjab, as well as other provinces of Pakistan.

Today the Rescue Service has completed 20 years of serving to humanity. During this span of time, despite of all challenges over 15.8 million victims of emergencies were rescued, first modern Fire Rescue Service was established and responded over 244,860 fire incidents, saved worth over 687 billion losses with timely emergency response and professional firefighting, Motorbike Rescue Service set new standard of emergency response dealt over 2.6 million emergencies in all districts with average response time of 4 minutes, Patient Transfer Service was provided to over 1.4 million patients from lower health facility to higher health facility. The Community Emergency Response Teams have been established in all Union Councils of Punjab to assist in the management of emergencies and safety promotion.

It is great honour for Pakistan that Pakistan Rescue Team has become the first United Nation INSARAG certified Team in South Asia. Due to this milestone achievement, Pakistan has been given the Chair of United Nations INSARAG Asia Pacific for year 2024. Accordingly, three international events shall be organized in Pakistan including International Rescue Challenge followed by INSARAG Asia Pacific Earthquake Response Exercise at Lahore and INSARAG Regional Meeting in Islamabad. These upcoming international events in 2024 will provide a platform for showcasing Pakistan’s advancements in this field and for fostering collaboration with global partners.

The service’s success is attributed to its visionary management with political ownership, dedicated rescuers, state-of-the-art equipment, and a commitment to providing timely and effective assistance to helpless victims of emergency and disaster. Beyond its immediate response capabilities, Rescue 1122 places a strong emphasis on community engagement and preparedness. In this regard, different level training are being imparted to develop youth / volunteers as Lifesavers, Rescue Scouts, and member of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) after international course on Community Action for Disaster Response Course. So far, over 500,000 Rescue Scouts are registered with Emergency Services and their different level trainings are underway. Furthermore these Rescue Scouts get opportunity to serve in the field of emergency response, awareness raising, trainings and safety surveys. These volunteer Rescue Scouts also get opportunity for inter union council competition followed by International Volunteer Day CERTs Challenge.

One of the key factors behind Rescue 1122’s success is the Emergency Services Academy, which has trained over 26,000 personnel from across Pakistan. The academy’s focus on human resource development and disaster management has ensured that rescuers are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to handle a wide range of emergencies. Rescue 1122’s impact extends beyond Pakistan’s borders. The service has been presented as a model for emergency response in regional conferences, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion-2022, & World Congress Safety and Health at Workplace 2023 Sydney Australia 2023 and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. Additionally, Rescue 1122 has provided training and support to other countries, such as Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Syria, Maldives and Buthan to enhance their emergency response capabilities.

The history of Service is incomplete without the great services of Rescue Shuhada. Salute to Shaheed Rescuers for their exemplary services to serve humanity. Thanks to the Government of Pakistan for presenting Gallantry award to Shaheed Rescuers of Ghakkar Plaza Operation and Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Director General and Tamga-e-Imtiaz and Governor Award, Pride of Pakistan to Rescue Officers. In recognition of its exceptional performance, Rescue 1122 has also received numerous awards and accolades. The Ministry of Planning and Development Pakistan presented the Development Leadership Awards to Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Secretary Emergency Services Rescue 1122, for his leadership in establishing the service and making it a global model. As Rescue 1122 celebrates its 20th anniversary, it continues to be a vital lifeline for millions of Pakistanis. In conclusion, Rescue 1122 stands as a testament to what can be achieved through dedication, innovation, and a commitment to humanitarian values. Its journey from a single ambulance service in Lahore to a leading emergency response system in South Asia is a source of pride for Pakistan and a beacon of hope for millions. As the service looks to the future, it remains steadfast in its mission to save lives and build safer, more resilient communities. May Allah give strength to all of us to maintain the standard of Service and serve humanity with same passion.

Written by Deeba Shahnaz Akhter

Head Community Safety & Information Rescue Punjab safepakmission@gmail.com