KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday decided to launch Rescue Helpline 1122 with fire engines and ambulances to meet any unexpected incidents.

“I want local government department to prepare a plan for around 200 fire tenders and ambulances and get it approved at the earliest to launch it in the next financial year,” he said while presiding over a meeting here at CM House.

Works and Services Minister Zia Abbas Shah, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Hassan Naqvi, Fayaz Jatoi, Sajid Jamal Abro and other officials were also present.

Reviewing the development portfolio of the local government department, the CM directed the local government minister to prepare a scheme to expand the scope of Rescue 1122 service by giving them 200 fire engines and more ambulances so that they could respond to any emergency.

200 fire engines, ambulances will be part of service to avoid Mehar-like fire incidents

Mr Shah said to avoid Mehar-like fire incidents, a fleet of fire tenders should be prepared to take timely actions.

“These fire tenders and ambulances would put on the disposal of Rescue 1122 so they can rush to the spot in case of any untoward incident,” he said and added that the parking place of the fire engines and ambulances would be decided later in consultation with district administration.

The local government minister told the meeting that the department had launched 555 schemes of Rs25.5 billion against which Rs16.9bn had been released and the utilisation of Rs11.8bn recorded.

The chief minister directed the local government department to focus on the completion of ongoing schemes in the next financial year.

“We would focus on finalisation of megaprojects launched in Karachi by next year,” the CM said.

Minister Zia Abbas Shah informed the meeting that the department had 7,000 schemes of Rs30,000 million against which Rs34,994.829m had been released while the utilisation recorded so far was Rs26,803.274m.

The chief minister directed the minister to prepare a plan to inaugurate road sector schemes which have been completed.

Also, he said that the irrigation department had 222 schemes of Rs17bn against which Rs14.5bn had been released while Rs10.8bn was utilised.

The chief minister directed the department to prepare new schemes and submit proposals to the planning and development department by May 10 so that they could be included in the next annual development programme.

In the next ADP, the focus would be on the completion of ongoing schemes and mega projects, he added.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2022