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MULTAN, Nov 01 (APP):In a comprehensive review of the Punjab Emergency Services Department’s (PESD) operational performance for October 2025, Dr Rizwan Naseer, secretary of the department, revealed that Rescue 1122 responded to a total of 214,992 emergencies across the province.
The department successfully rescued 219,765 victims during the month, but Dr Naseer expressed serious concern over the high number of road traffic accidents, which accounted for a significant portion of the emergency responses.
The month saw 44,832 road traffic crashes, leading to 466 fatalities and 22,799 serious injuries, many of which resulted in permanent disability. Additionally, 1,693 fire-related incidents and 65 drowning emergencies were also reported, prompting further concerns about public safety.
Dr Naseer chaired the monthly performance review meeting on Saturday, which was attended by the heads of various wings of the Emergency Services Department, along with the Provincial Monitoring Officer. District Emergency Officers (DEOs) and Divisional Emergency Officers participated via video link to present the operational performance and discuss key challenges, case studies, and initiatives taken at the district level.
The data for October revealed that out of the total emergencies, 142,999 were medical emergencies, 5,917 were related to delivery cases, and 3,486 involved crime incidents. Notably, the majority of road traffic crashes occurred in urban centers, with Lahore recording the highest number of incidents— 7,815, which resulted in 36 deaths. Other major districts with high crash numbers included Faisalabad (2,969 accidents), Multan (2,821 accidents), Gujranwala (2,303 accidents), Sheikhupura (1,605 accidents), and Rawalpindi (1,517 accidents).
In terms of fire incidents, Lahore again topped the list with 330 fire emergencies, followed by Faisalabad (120 incidents) and Rawalpindi (97 incidents).
Dr Naseer voiced particular concern over the alarming road traffic statistics, stressing that 466 deaths in a single month is an unacceptable toll. He urged all road users, particularly motorbike riders, to adhere to safer speed limits, recommending a maximum speed of 50 km/h, as each 1 km/h increase in speed raises the risk of fatal accidents by 4-5pc.
The secretary reiterated the critical need for improved road safety measures and the implementation of all pillars of Road Safety in alignment with the United Nations Global Road Safety Strategy. He stressed that these measures are essential not only to reduce traffic-related fatalities but also to ensure the safety of all road users across Punjab.