Upon directions of the Director General, Brig (R) Dr. Arshad Zia, Emergency Service Rescue 1122 observed International Earth Day on 22nd April in all districts of Punjab. In this regard Rescue Earth awareness activities including awareness walks, seminars, extracurricular have been arranged to sensitize the public about increasing number of emergencies and disaster taking place due to environmental change, global warming, ozone depletion pollution and misuse of energy. The participants were carrying banners, leaflets, booklets inscribed with awareness information about Earth Day and raised slogans “Let Rescue the Mother Earth” to create awareness among general public to safe and clean Motherland.
The Director General Emergency Services Academy Rescue 1122 Brig (R) Amir Hamza also arranged specialized activities including plantation campaign, speech competition, and arranged environmental experts as guest speakers to sensitize under trainee Rescue Cadets in Emergency Services Academy, Lahore on highly sensitive issue of climate change and need of collective efforts for healthy resilient and safer Pakistan.
Such initiatives from Rescue operational offices in all districts of Punjab and Emergency Services Academy Lahore aim to put joint efforts in collaboration with public to develop safer communities by creating awareness about climate change and impact of environmental pollution due to excessive energy consumption, which is making this Mother Earth polluted and perilous.
The Director General Brig (R) Dr. Arshad Zia said that community participation in Earth Awareness Walk is a symbol of ownership by the community and if joint efforts are not made on priority basis by the general public, media and corporate sector to “Rescue Earth”, the community shall be victimized of such environmental emergencies in upcoming years.
The Director General Emergency Services Academy Brig (R) Amir Hamza said that “we have planned to plant 7000 trees in different areas of the Emergency Services Academy by end of this year thus celebrating this International Earth Day theming “Tree for Earth”. He further stated that in wake of climate change, flash flooding and floods have significantly increased in Pakistan hence the role of Rescue 1122 has increased manifold. “As we have rescued over 4 million emergency victims in all districts of Punjab through trained emergency professionals, accordingly we have to Rescue the Mother Earth through excessive plantation to reduce the effects of climate change,” he added.
DG Rescue Punjab Brig (R) Arshad appreciated Rescuers and volunteers from different organizations to organize event about Earth Day and said all stakeholders can play a vital role in building safer communities in country by adopting preventing measures and promoting green culture around them. Furthermore, all community volunteers are welcomed to join hands with Rescue 1122 to bring healthy change and developing safe environment in Pakistan.