LAHORE: A 25-member delegation from the 52nd Common Training Programme (CTP) at the Civil Services Academy Lahore visited the Emergency Services Headquarters and Academy to gain insight into the operational framework and functions of the Emergency Services Department.
The delegation observed specialized training sessions on managing various emergencies, including fire and hazardous materials incidents, medical and trauma cases, collapsed structure search and rescue, water rescue, and flood response.
At the Provincial Monitoring Cell (PMC), they were briefed on the department’s mechanisms for maintaining uniform service standards across Punjab. The integrated Emergency Management and Dispatch System, which streamlines call management and GPS tracking to ensure prompt emergency response, was also demonstrated.
The PMC team showcased the department’s digital database, which consolidates all emergency data for strategic planning and research purposes.
The group later toured the Managers Training Centre (MTC), where the Secretary of the Emergency Services Department (ESD) provided an overview of the department’s reforms and milestones. Established initially as a pilot project in Lahore with just 14 ambulances, six rescue stations, and 200 personnel, the service has grown exponentially.
The Secretary highlighted the department’s achievements, including rescuing over 16.2 million emergency victims and mitigating losses exceeding 650 billion rupees in more than 248,000 fire incidents.
The delegation was also briefed on the severity of road traffic accidents in Punjab and measures to curb them. Strategies aligned with the United Nations’ “One Vision” for Road Safety were discussed, including reducing vehicular speed limits to 30 km/h to minimize road accidents by 2030.
The visit provided the delegation with valuable insights into the comprehensive and dynamic operations of Pakistan’s Emergency Services Department.
