PESHAWAR, July 16: Dispelling the impression that Rescue 1122 is being abolished, its director general Dr Shamsul Haq has said that the service will be rather extended to the entire province.

The provincial government had already approved expansion of Rescue 1122 to Mingora, Abbottabad, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts, he told a news conference here on Monday.

He said that presently the rescue service was available in Peshawar and Mardan only. However, it would serve the people of the entire province as government had given it a legal cover through an ordinance signed by the governor on June 29, 2012, he added.

Dr Haq said that there was no truth in the rumours about scrapping of Rescue 1122. He said that after the ratification of ordinance by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor in June last, they regularised all employees as Rescue 1122 attained legal status.

The official said that Rescue 1122 also gained autonomous status following the issuance of the ordinance. He, however, said that the ordinance would be tabled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly within three months according to rules.

The speaker of provincial assembly, he said, had assured them that the ordinance would be presented in the upcoming session of the house. He said that Rescue 1122 formed a council after getting autonomous status. The chief minister would act as chairman of the council, he added.

Dr Haq said the legal complications in service delivery had been removed following endorsement of the ordinance. Under the legal cover, he said, Rescue 1122 was allowed to move freely, use siren and inspect crime scene in emergency situation.

He said that according to the ordinance, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Emergency Academy would be set up to impart training to rescuers in collaboration with local and international institutions.