Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Advocate Aftab Alam on Tuesday directed relevant authorities to expand Rescue 1122 services in Kohat district and ensure timely emergency response facilities in remote areas.
He issued these directives while chairing a meeting held at the Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department to review administrative and operational matters of Rescue 1122 Kohat. Senior officials of the department, Director General Rescue 1122 and other concerned officers attended the meeting.
The participants were briefed that Rescue 1122 services in Kohat were launched in 2018, while the network was expanded across the district in 2023. The Mines Rescue Service was introduced in 2024, whereas the Water Rescue Service was further strengthened in 2026.
The meeting was informed that six rescue stations were currently operational in Kohat district, including two stations in Kohat Tehsil. Rescue 1122 Kohat has a fleet of 26 ambulances, 10 heavy rescue vehicles and 125 trained personnel providing emergency services.
Officials said the service was providing medical assistance, firefighting, road accident rescue, search and rescue operations, disaster response, building collapse rescue and community emergency awareness and training programmes.
The meeting was further informed that key points of Rescue 1122 had been established at RHC Astorzai, RHC Chorlaki and Civil Hospital Zarghun Khel in Darra Adam Khel to ensure timely emergency assistance in far-flung areas. Two development projects aimed at enhancing the capacity of Rescue 1122 had also been approved with the support of the World Bank.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Aftab Alam said provision of timely and quality emergency services to citizens was a top priority of the provincial government.
He directed authorities to establish new rescue stations in areas where emergency services were limited. He particularly stressed the need for setting up a rescue station or sub-station on Old Pindi Road to ensure quick response for residents.
The minister also instructed that local youth should be given preference in lower-level recruitment to create employment opportunities and improve the efficiency of rescue services.
He emphasised the need for establishing additional Rescue 1122 key points at BHU Togh Bala and RHC Chorlaki, assuring that the government would provide the required land for these projects.
The meeting concluded with a decision to take joint measures for further expansion of the Rescue 1122 network in Kohat, provision of modern equipment, increase in manpower and ensuring access to emergency services in remote areas.