Dr. Rizwan Naseer appreciates the efforts of Water Rescue Teams

Lahore: DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer has appreciated the efforts of Water Rescue Teams and the teams of other districts, who provided backup support to affected districts comprising on brave rescuers and boats operators, whose leaves had been cancelled and they remained on duty round-the-clock & conducted flood search & rescue operations during recent floods and rescued some 85, 442 flood affected persons from all 26 flood-hit districts of the Punjab. The responsibility of Rescue 1122 increased two fold as the rescuers not only had to respond to the routine emergencies but also remained on high alert all over the Punjab to rescue flood affected persons from flood-prone areas.

While supervising a high level meeting of rescue officers held at Rescue 1122 Headquarters on Friday, DG Rescue Punjab was informed by the Provincial Monitoring Cell that Rescuers evacuated 86, 695 food affected people including 30, 046 from Jhang; 15,  636 from Multan and 10534 from Muzaffargarh District.  The PMC further briefed that a flood contingency plan was prepared in consultation with the districts governments before influx of floods and the resources including 315 Rescue Boats and 5701 rescuers were deployed in all flood-hit districts of Punjab. Due to effective arrangements, vulnerable areas in possible flood-hit districts were already identified. With arrival of the floods, the Disaster Response Force headed by Dr. Farhan Khalid and Mian Mohammad Ahsan was especially moved to provide backup support to flood-hit districts. The PMC briefed overall, Water Rescue Teams evacuated 1749 flood affected persons from Narowal; 96 from Rawalpindi, Sialkot 1939, 1461 from Sheikhupura, 899 from Gujranwala, 185 from Gujrat, 5205 from Hafizabad, 403 from Jehlum, 5721 from Mandi Bahauddin, 30046 from Jhang, 3557 from Khanewal, 2521 from Chiniot, 284 from Sargodha, 466 from Khushab, 757 from Nankana Saheb, 377 from TT Singh, 221 from Okara, 146 from Sahiwal, 07 from Chakwal, 201 from Lahore, 15136 from Multan, 02 from Vehari, 1740 from Rajanpur, 9911 from Muzaffargarh, 333 from Rahim Yar Khan, and 279 from Bahawalpur.

DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer congratulated the rescuers, who ensured safe evacuation of the victims on safer places. He further said that during his visits of different districts, he noticed high motivation level among rescuers who bravely worked and discharged their official obligation. He also revealed that different high profile government functionaries also appreciated the efforts of rescuers during recent floods and even Pakistan Armed Forces presented cash awards at different points to rescuers. On showing such professional excellence, DG Rescue Punjab said that all rescue officers/ officials deserve appreciation at all level.