Rescue-1122, VSO Launch Pakistan Youth Volunteers Initiative

Punjab Emergency Service (PES), Rescue-1122 and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Pakistan have launched Pakistan Youth Volunteers initiative

RAWALPINDI, Sept 21 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Sep, 2017 ) : Punjab Emergency Service (PES), Rescue-1122 and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) Pakistan have launched Pakistan Youth Volunteers initiative.

Rescue-1122 in collaboration with VSO Pakistan organized an event here on Thursday at Central Rescue Station Rawal Road to promote peace with the commitment from Rescue Mohafiz and other stakeholders working for the same cause.

Director General, Rescue-1122 Dr. Rizwan Naseer was the chief guest while District Emergency Officer, Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi Dr. Abdur Rahman, Head of Community Safety and Information Headquarters Ms.

Deeba Shahnaz, representatives from national and international organizations, Rescue Officers and a large number of volunteers were present on the occasion. Rescue Mohafiz (volunteers) attached with Rescue 1122 demonstrated emergency response skills to show the community capacity to deal with any untoward incident.

Dr. Rizwan Naseer inaugurated Pakistan Youth Initiative Engaging Youth for Building Community Resilience initiative. Speaking on the occasion the DG said, every year the International Day of Peace is celebrated around the world to promote significance and commitment to peace and harmony and to contribute towards peace-building.

The PES, Rescue 1122 Pakistan is already providing sense of safety to all the citizens without any discrimination and now have initiated 'Pakistan Youth Initiative-Engaging Youth for Building Community Resilience and Promoting Social Cohesion' initiative with the support of VSO, he informed.

Dr. Rizwan also congratulated Community Safety and Information Wing for comprehensive planning and completing task of registration of 95,000 Rescue Mohafiz and imparting training to 30,000 Rescue Mohafiz during this year who have been further engaged in different areas of emergency preparedness and response in their respective districts.

He said that Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) through Rescue Mohafiz Program of PES is working in close coordination with people at grassroots level and now with another new initiative Rescue and VSO Pakistan together would work to contribute to peace and reconciliation in Pakistan.

Dr. Rizwan said, the role of youth volunteers in peace-building is very important as they are highly energetic and want to contribute positively so Emergency Service Rescue 1122 is providing them a platform to work for peace, safety and prosperity of the country.

He said, only well trained community members can significantly contribute in establishing safer communities in Pakistan and the citizens should play due role to emerge as a safe, determined, practical and progressive nation of the world.

Speaking on the occasion, Country Director VSO Hashim Bilal said, VSO in Pakistan is committed to work with youth and Primary actors at community, district and national level to help shape and influence policies to be pro-poor and pro-youth.

Fahad Mehmood Khan Mohafiz Partners, Akhtar Uddin from United Nations Volunteers and Muhammad Ubaid Qureshi Federal General Secretary Youth Parliament assured all possible collaboration with Rescue 1122 for noble cause.

At the end, Sheryar Ahsan Khan Senior Program Manager (VSO) appreciated efforts of Rescue 1122 and Community safety wing for promoting community resilience and expressed the hope that the partnership would help promote peace and resilience.

On direction of the Director General, Dr. Rizwan Naseer, PES, (Rescue 1122) marked International Day of peace in all districts of Punjab. The DG has directed all District Emergency Officers (DEOs) to utilize trained Rescue Mohafiz/CERTs for further awareness related to Peace promotion and community resilience in all Union Councils of Punjab to achieve healthy, peaceful, safer and resilient communities in the province.

APP/azh/ati