EDITORIAL: Time to Think
By the Editor

AS the Saturday's severe earthquake has exposed overtly the limitations and deficiencies in the emergency services in Pakistan, it would not be wrong to say that Pakistanis are living at God's mercy as far as such services are related too.

Despite lapse of two years, the Government is yet to implement recommendations of a report on emergency response services in Pakistan jointly prepared by the United Nations Development Programme and the Ministry of Interior.

This report had pointed out serious flaws in existing system of emergency services in Pakistan with recommendations for improvement.

'Think for a while that one meets an accident, or is buried under the debris owing to some natural calamity; will anyone ever come to one's rescue'. Shall one get an ambulance and how would he or she be transported and managed in the hospital'.

It is indeed shocking to even think about it, if some one has any awareness in this regard', the report observed some two years back.

The situation is no different even today. These questions still continue to haunt the citizens who have now become even more conscious about the state of preparedness and response of the concerned agencies towards natural calamities like the recent one.

Alike, while commenting on the state of emergency services in Pakistan the report said that 'there are very rare chances that an injured would get an ambulance in time, in case of an accident and almost impossible that he / she would be managed by professionally trained personnel at the emergency site'.

Even if some services are present, the personnel of these services do not have the appropriate training and equipment, it said and commented that a well trained coordinated and equipped service could make all the difference in saving valuable human lives and property, thus minimising the losses both in financial and human terms.

It noted that Police was the largest of all the emergency services in the country with an approximate strength of a little over two-and-half lacs (261,938). The report said that police would be the most appropriate and effective organisation to manage the universal emergency response, command and control centres.

The report identified the gaps leading to poor and delayed response to emergencies and suggested strategy for better preparedness and mitigation. It also pin-pointed the possible sources of volunteers to assist in the management of large-scale emergencies and disasters.

As for the possible sources of volunteers in the country, the report said the Pakistan Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Associations could play an important role in terms of training through the teachers and an effective army of volunteers could be generated with minimal expenses in all the schools and colleges.

As an another source of volunteers, it pointed out the students studying in various religious schools where, according to the report, over 0.25 million students were getting religious education in Punjab alone.

These students can be trained in the shortest possible time and will be the most willing volunteers who will put their own lives at risk to save the life of others, the report on emergency response services said.

The report had recommended drafting and enforcement of a new Emergency Services Ordinance for formation of a Rescue and Fire Service in the country and to establish the Pakistan Emergency and Fire Council to ensure quality of the service and continuity of policies.

In the opinion of experts involved in preparation of the report, the exercise to improve emergency services and response would be futile without an effective and clear legislation.

It recommended strengthening and expansion of the Emergency Police (Rescue-15) System, with at least one open, customer friendly, equipped centre in every district to play the central role of communication and coordination centre for
other services.

The report suggested a single, distinct, universal emergency number applicable in all parts of Pakistan in order to eliminate the confusion of calling different numbers for help.

It also recommended human resource training for staff of Civil Defence and Fire Brigades on immediate basis on modem lines to meet the new challenges.

It recommended establishment of an academy for officers to ensure the process of continuity of training, development of new curricula, training programs, material and equipment for the Provincial Rescue & Fire Fighting Training Schools.

Equipping of fire services of the major cities with specialized equipment, according to the requirements and challenges of the present times was also recommended.

At present army is called in for rescue operations in case of major emergencies owing to lack of preparedness on the part of civilian organisations to respond and manage such a situation.

It laid greater stress on the necessary training and expertise of the personnel involved in carrying out the emergency work, without which, it said, the response would still remain poor.

It stressed upon the need for good communication network in order to have a timely response, which was vital for the emergency services to be effective.

What have we done to go by this report?

We think, it is an apt time to take the topic seriously, specifically in the light of the awful scenario, the nation is facing now-a-days in the wake of the strongest-ever quake, which has brought to a halt normal life both in Pakistan as well as in the Himalayan State of Jammu & Kashmir.

Isn't it so?● 

 -  Mumtaz Hamid Rao
www.MumtazRao.net