Author: dailybalochistantimes.com

Lahore: As per vision of the Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Air Ambulance Service and Motorway Ambulance Service were started during 2024 for shifting of critically ill patients from far flung areas of Punjab to specialized healthcare facilities and emergency services on all 76 motorways interchanges and 1588 km running through Punjab.

Likewise, the prestigious certification by United Nations INSARAG of Pakistan Rescue Team enabled to host two historic events of International Rescue Challenge and United Nations INSARAG Asia Pacific Exercise in Lahore, which brought 274 international delegates from 23 countries and 30 organizations in Pakistan that is great honor for the country.

These views were expressed by the Secretary Emergency Services Department Dr. Rizwan Naseer during Annual Performance Review Meeting chaired at Emergency Services Headquarters, which was attended by the all Heads of Wings of Emergency Services Headquarters and Academy in person and Divisional and District Emergency Officers through video link.

Secretary Emergency Services, Dr. Rizwan Naseer said that Rescue 1122 rescued over 2.2 million emergency victims during the year 2024 while maintaining its average response time of 8 minutes in all districts of Punjab. The data showed 22.7 percent increase in the number of emergencies as compared to previous year 2023.

He was presiding over an Annual Performance-2024 Review meeting, which was held at Emergency Services Headquarters here on Wednesday. The Secretary was briefed about rescue operations during 2024 which include 1.5 million medical emergencies, 467,561 road traffic crashes, 56,260 delivery cases, 55,589 fall from height/ slip, 45,857 crime, 28,018 fire incidents, 23,088 occupational injuries, 12,860 electric shock, 12,689 animal rescue operations, 4,528 burn cases, 1,150 drowning, 691 structural collapse and 50,032 others miscellaneous emergencies.

At this occasion, Provincial Monitoring Cell briefed Secretary Emergency Services that 467,561 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) took place across the Punjab in 2024, whereas 420,387 RTCs were reported in 2023 with an increase of 11.2 percent. Similarly, 28,018 fire incidents were reported in all districts of Punjab in 2024 whereas 20,665 cases of fires were reported in 2023 with increase of 35.6 percent. Rescue 1122 managed 1.5 million medical emergencies in 2024, whereas the Service responded to 1.17 million medical emergencies in 2023 with increase of 29.1 percent. Furthermore, the Punjab Emergency Service responded to 45,857 crime emergencies in 2024, as compared to 43,302 in 2023 with increase of 5.9 percent cases.

Provincial Monitoring Cell further briefed that during last year 131,773 victims were provided Patients Transfer Services free of cost from primary healthcare facility to specialized advance healthcare facility and 47 critically ill patients shifted from far flung areas of Punjab to specialized healthcare facilities through Air Ambulance Service. Besides that, Motorbike Rescue Service responded over 1 million emergencies with average response time of 4 minutes in all districts of Punjab in 2024.

Lahore: Hindu pilgrims from India will arrive Pakistan via Wagah Border on January 5 to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Satguru Sant Swami Shadaram, the founder of historic Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Mirpur Mathelo, Sindh. The pilgrims will be warmly welcomed by Additional Secretary Shrines, Saifullah Khokhar, Deputy Secretary Umer Javed Awan, and member of the Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee, Amit Shadani. Under the guidance of federal government and Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board, Syed Ata-ur-Rehman, comprehensive arrangements, including foolproof security, have been finalized for their visit. After their arrival, the pilgrims will head directly to Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, where central religious ceremonies and rituals will take place. During their stay, they will also visit several sacred sites in Sindh, including Yog Mata Mandir in Aqilpur, Ghotki, Pano Aqil, and historic Sadhu Bela Mandir in Sukkur. On January 14, the pilgrims will spend a day in Nankana Sahib before concluding their journey. The famous Shadani Darbar in Ghotki is known for its annual birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Shadaram. The Hindu pilgrims will return to India on January 15 after completing their spiritual journey.

Lahore: Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique announced on Wednesday that the ongoing revamping projects in government teaching hospitals are progressing rapidly and will significantly enhance patient care and treatment facilities once completed.

Chairing a meeting alongside Provincial Minister for Communication and Works (C and W) Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath at the C and W Department, the ministers reviewed progress on the extensive revamping efforts across the province.

During the meeting, detailed progress reports on the revamping of various government teaching hospitals were discussed. These included Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital Gujrat, Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital Sialkot, Punjab Dental Hospital Lahore, Services Hospital Lahore, Nawaz Sharif Yaki Gate Hospital Lahore, Mian Munshi Teaching Hospital Lahore, Lady Aitchison Hospital Lahore, Sardar Begum Teaching Hospital Sialkot, Ghulam Muhammad Hospital Faisalabad, Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital DG Khan, Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur, Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Children's Hospital Multan, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, DHQ Hospitals in Gujranwala, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sargodha, Allied Hospital Faisalabad, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital Lahore, Jinnah Hospital Lahore, General Hospital Lahore, Children's Hospital Lahore, and the Punjab Institute of Cardiology.

Speaking at the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique emphasized the importance of timely completion of revamping projects and assured that 100 percent transparency is being maintained throughout the process. He stressed that negligence would not be tolerated in the revamping projects and reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring world-class healthcare facilities in Punjab's teaching hospitals.

Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath added that 90 percent of the work has been completed in most hospitals, and directives have been issued to complete the remaining tasks promptly. The Secretary of the C and W Department has been tasked with ensuring adherence to the timeline.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood, Secretary C and W Lt. (R) Sohail Ashraf, Special Secretary Development of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Additional Secretary Dr. Waheed Asghar, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti, and other C and W officers. Hospital principals, medical superintendents, and engineers from the concerned teaching hospitals also participated via video link.