Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired the Punjab Emergency Council meeting at 90-SQA on Monday and approved different steps including enhancing the retirement age from 45 to 50 years to further improve rescue 1122 service. The meeting approved pay and other fringe benefits for rescuers during training as well as regularization of 3235 employees. It also approved a six month's extension for Dr Rizwan Naseer for the post of DG Rescue 1122 and the CM directed that appointment of a new incumbent should be ensured within this period. The CM was told that more than six lac persons have benefited from motorbike ambulance service. Addressing the meeting, the CM directed that availability of emergency exits in high-rise buildings and commercial plazas should be ensured and ordered a report after a comprehensive inspection of such buildings adding that availability of hydrants should be ensured so that fire-brigade vehicles may not have to go far away for fetching water. The installation of fire safety equipment should also be ensured and the CM announced to expand the scope of motorbike ambulance service to the district level. Every district will be given 50 bikes for ambulance service, he stated. He affirmed 250 new ambulances are procured as rescue 1122 will be run in a non-traditional manner. He directed to early solve promotion matters of rescue 1122 staff as enough delay has already occurred and there is no room for any further procrastination. The CM directed to constitute a committee under law minister to solve service rule matters. The rescue 1122 will be made a state-of-the-art institution, he added and proposed to early solve matters through mutual coordination. Dr Rizwan Naseer presented the UN shield to the CM. Law Minister Raja Basharat, MPAs Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and Khadeeja Umer, Chief Secretary, IG Police, SMBR, ACSs of Home and LG depts and others attended the meeting.