KARACHI: Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services (SIEHS) Chief Executive Officer Brigadier (Retd) Tarique Quadir Lakhiar has announced plans to collaborate with the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) to launch first-aid training programmes for the industrial sector, while a proposal to deploy an ambulance at KATI for emergency response in the Korangi area is also under consideration.
He expressed these views during his visit to KATI, where he addressed industrialists and members.
The meeting was attended by KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Senior Vice President Zahid Hamid, Vice President Muhammad Talha, former chairmen and presidents Junaid Naqi and Gulzar Feroz, Israr Ahmed Khan, and Rescue 1122 officials including Colonel Ali Akbar, Alishbah Junejo, Kiran Saeed, Agha Nauman and others.
Brigadier (Retd) Tarique Quadir Lakhiar said that Rescue 1122 ambulances operating in Sindh are equipped with 29 life-saving devices, compared to 13 devices in ambulances in Punjab, reflecting the vision of the Sindh government and Provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho.
He said that 627 modern ambulances, along with motorcycles, bicycles and boats, are currently providing emergency medical services across Sindh.
He added that the emergency service, which began with the Aman Foundation, is now operating under the patronage of the Sindh government, whose support he termed commendable.
He further informed that Rescue 1122’s helpline receives over 26,000 calls daily, while 39 ambulance stations have been established across the province. He said the long-term target is to expand the fleet to 1,800 ambulances across Sindh.
Speaking on the occasion, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said the successful implementation of the Public-Private Partnership model by SIEHS has set an example for both the government and the private sector. He said that for the people of Sindh, 1122 has become a symbol of hope during accidents, disasters and medical emergencies.
He appreciated Rescue 1122 for providing round-the-clock services without discrimination.
Rajput stressed the need to establish more strategically located ambulance points in the Korangi Industrial Area in collaboration with KATI to reduce response time. He also proposed the development of a comprehensive joint emergency response plan for the area. He said the free and non-discriminatory nature of Rescue 1122’s services, providing equal care to labourers and industrialists alike, is a true example of humanitarian service.
Senior Vice President and Standing Committee Chairman Zahid Hamid said that SIEHS’s modern ambulances function as mobile intensive care units, providing timely and critical medical assistance to industrial workers. He suggested that Rescue 1122 experts should provide specialised training to safety staff at KATI member factories so they can act as first responders and take life-saving measures before ambulances arrive.
Junaid Naqi, Gulzar Feroz, Muhammad Talha and other participants also shared their views and emphasised the need for closer coordination between emergency services and the industrial sector to improve emergency preparedness in Korangi.
