Volunteers paid tribute

LAHORE: The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) in collaboration with United Nations Volunteer (UNV), Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) and Humanetek organised a grand event to acknowledge the contribution of volunteers and their motivation for further implementation of vision for saving lives and changing minds through pragmatic involvement of the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) at union council level.
International Volunteer Day is commemorated on December 5 to acknowledge contribution of the volunteers. Jahangir Khanzada, Minister Youth Affairs and Sports, was the chief guest and MNA Shaista Pervaiz Malik was the guest of honour. The event was attended by the dignities of national and international organisations including UNV, VSO, Humanetek etc., and large number of volunteers from all over Pakistan. The volunteers from VSO, ICRC and Rescue Mohafiz presented their professional skills at different stalls and inspirational stories of successful volunteers have also been shared with the participants of the event for promoting volunteerism.
Last year, in the light of the vision of chief minister, Rescue 1122 launched Rescue Mohafiz Programme on International Volunteers Day on December 5, 2016 to established Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) at union council level to enhance emergency preparedness, response and prevention for healthy, safe resilient and prosperous communities all over Punjab.
Dr Rizwan Naseer briefed about Rescue Mohafiz programme which started last year to mobilise the power of humanity to establish Community Emergency Response Teams comprising Rescue Mohafiz (Volunteers) in every union council of Punjab for emergency preparedness, response and prevention. He said: “It is matter of pride form me that Rescue 1122 has registered 100,000 and trained 30,000 Rescue Mohafiz during the year 2017. Volunteers from all over Punjab have been given opportunity to exhibit their emergency response skills in first Provincial Community Emergency Response Exercise-2017. Today the best three teams from Punjab including Chiniot with first prize, Layyah with second and Lahore with third prize are being awarded with cash prize and all volunteer who participated in exercise are being presented with certificates.” Speaking on the occasion, Country Director Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), Hashim Bilal appreciated Rescue 1122 efforts for promoting volunteerism. He ensured support to Rescue 1122 in term of providing 1,600 Youth Facilitators (Volunteers) VSO to club with Rescue Mohafiz and work for resilient communities in Pakistan.