RAWALPINDI, Dec 16 (APP): The Murree District Administration, in collaboration with Punjab Emergency Service Rescue 1122, on Tuesday conducted scenario-based drills in hilly areas of Murree to test emergency response capabilities during severe snowfall and extreme winter conditions.
A district administration spokesman said the “Murree Winter Preparedness Exercise” was held under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi, following special directives from the Punjab Chief Minister and the Secretary of Emergency Services.
Coordinated by the District Disaster Management Authority Murree, the exercise involved Rescue 1122, district administration officials, Highway Department, Health Department, National Highways & Motorway Police, and other relevant agencies. Operations were monitored by senior officers from the District Operation Centre and Control Room to ensure effective coordination.
Deputy Commissioner Shirazi said Murree “experiences heavy snowfall annually, posing risks to both tourists and local residents”. He added that prior preparation, timely decision-making, and inter-agency coordination were essential to handle emergencies.
He said the exercise aimed to assess and enhance the emergency response capacity of all participating departments, ensuring immediate assistance to the public in unforeseen events. Key activities included safe evacuation drills, medical emergency response, road clearance, traffic management, and realistic accident scenarios under extreme weather conditions.
The spokesman said the exercise strengthened inter-agency coordination, joint operational response, and information-sharing mechanisms, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to providing timely, safe, and effective emergency services to residents and tourists during the winter season.