Article Written By: Deeba Shahnaz Akhter
Head Community Safety & Information Rescue Punjab
safepakmission@gmail.com
Over the past two decades, Emergency Services Rescue 1122 has emerged as a vital lifeline for Pakistan, providing critical assistance to over 18.5 million victims across the country. From medical emergencies to natural disasters, this integrated emergency service encompassing ambulance, fire and rescue, disaster response, and community emergency response teams has played a pivotal role in saving lives and building disaster-resilient communities throughout the nation. Rescue 1122 also holds the distinction of being South Asia’s first United Nations INSARAG-certified rescue team. Founded in 2004 in Lahore, Rescue 1122 has expanded its operations to cover all districts and tehsils of Punjab, as well as other provinces across Pakistan. In 2024, the service achieved a historic milestone with the launch of an Air Ambulance Service, initiated by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz. This groundbreaking initiative serves critical patients in Bahawalnagar, Mianwali, and Bhakkar, remote areas where transferring patients to specialized healthcare facilities previously required at least 4 hours of travel time. This advancement has ensured that emergency patients across Punjab Province now have the right to timely emergency care regardless of their location.
During its 21 years of service to humanity, Rescue 1122 has accomplished extraordinary achievements despite numerous challenges. Over 18.5 million emergency victims have been rescued across Punjab and beyond. Pakistan’s first modern Fire Rescue Service was established under this initiative, responding to over 273,590 fire incidents and preventing losses worth over 751 billion rupees through timely emergency response and professional firefighting. The innovative Motorbike Rescue Service has set new standards in emergency response, handling over 3.8 million emergencies across all districts with an average response time of just 4 minutes. Additionally, more than 1.5 million patients have been safely transferred from lower-tier health facilities to specialized hospitals through the Patient Transfer Service. Community Emergency Response Teams have been established in all Union Councils of Punjab to assist in emergency management and promote safety awareness at the grassroots level. Besides, United Nations INSARAG Certified Team responded to the devastating earthquake in Türkiye in February 2023, playing a vital role in saving many precious lives.
During Pakistan’s catastrophic floods in 2025, when the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers inundated areas of Punjab that had never experienced such severe flooding in recorded history, Rescue 1122 demonstrated exceptional valor and commitment. Working alongside district administrations, the service conducted advance evacuations of 2.6 million citizens and 2.1 million animals. For those who could not comply with early government warnings, Rescue 1122 launched the largest boat rescue operation in the country’s history, with over 35000 boat trips, evacuating over 449,000 people using boats and barges. Rescuers worked day and night, sacrificing countless hours of sleep to provide a sense of safety and security to vulnerable citizens during this unprecedented crisis.
Pakistan’s emergency response capabilities received prestigious international recognition when the country was awarded the United Nations INSARAG Asia Pacific Chair for 2024, following the certification of Pakistan’s first UN INSARAG-certified rescue team in South Asia. This honor enabled Pakistan to host three significant international events: the International Rescue Challenge, the United Nations INSARAG Asia Pacific Earthquake Response Exercise in Lahore, and the INSARAG Regional Meeting in Islamabad. These events attracted 274 participants from 23 countries and 30 humanitarian partner organizations, providing a platform to showcase Pakistan’s advancements in search and rescue while strengthening collaboration with global partners.
The service’s remarkable success is attributed to visionary management with strong political ownership, dedicated rescuers, state-of-the-art equipment, and an unwavering commitment to providing timely and effective assistance to emergency and disaster victims. At the heart of Rescue 1122’s excellence is the Emergency Services Academy, which has trained over 26,000 personnel from across Pakistan. The academy’s focus on human resource development and disaster management ensures that rescuers are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to handle diverse emergencies effectively and professionally.
Beyond its immediate response capabilities, Rescue 1122 places strong emphasis on community preparedness. Multi-level training programs has been developed to train youth and volunteers as Lifesavers, Rescue Scouts, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Over 254000 Rescue Scouts are now trained as lifesavers and over 4000 CERTs are engaged with Rescue 1122 in emergency response, awareness raising, training delivery, and safety surveys. They also participate in inter-union council competitions and the International Volunteer Day CERT Challenge, fostering a culture of preparedness and civic responsibility among Pakistan’s youth. Rescue 1122 has provided training and technical support to enhance emergency response capabilities in Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Syria, Maldives, and Bhutan, contributing to regional disaster preparedness and response capacity building.
The history of Rescue 1122 is incomplete without paying tribute to the Shaheed rescuers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving humanity. These brave individuals exemplify the highest ideals of selfless service and courage. The Government of Pakistan has honored these heroes with gallantry awards for Shaheed Rescuers of the Ghakkar Plaza Operation, as well as conferring Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz upon the Director General, along with a Development Leadership Award. Rescue Officers have received Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, the Governor’s Award, and Pride of Pakistan recognition. In recognition of its exceptional performance, Rescue 1122 has received numerous awards and accolades from national and international organizations.
As Rescue 1122 celebrates its 21st anniversary, it continues to serve as a vital lifeline for millions of Pakistanis. The service stands as a testament to what can be achieved through dedication, innovation, and commitment to humanitarian values. It’s remarkable journey from a single ambulance service in Lahore to becoming a leading emergency response system in South Asia is a source of immense pride for Pakistan. As the service looks toward the future, it remains steadfast in its mission to save lives and build safer, more resilient communities across the nation. May we continue to maintain the highest standards of service and serve humanity with unwavering passion and dedication.
