Four new rescue and fire stations will be established at different locations in Islamabad to strengthen emergency response, while China will gift 21 new fire tenders to the Capital Development Authority to improve firefighting capacity. The new Rescue 1122 centers will be built in G-11, I-14, I-9 and Model Town Humak. A CDA engineer said tenders for the construction have already been floated and bids will be opened next week.

The new Rescue 1122 centers will be built in G-11, I-14, I-9 and Model Town Humak. A CDA engineer said tenders for the construction have already been floated and bids will be opened next week.

Ambulances will also be stationed at the centers to respond to emergencies. Officials said the project was first announced in 2008, but no practical work had started except the allocation of land by the CDA’s planning wing.

Director General Capital Emergency Services Dr Abdur Rahman said the centers would significantly improve response time, especially in areas where emergency teams currently face delays.

He also confirmed that China will gift 21 fire tenders, including an 88-metre snorkel vehicle. The equipment is expected to be shipped from China in the second week of August and will first arrive at Karachi port.

At present, the CDA has 22 fire tenders and four snorkels, but these can reach only up to 68 meters. Officials said this limits the authority’s ability to handle emergencies in high-rise buildings.

A CDA firefighter said the new 88-metre snorkel would allow the authority to respond more effectively to incidents in tall buildings. He also pointed out that more than 100 firefighter posts remain vacant and should be filled without delay.

He said the CDA board had already directed the relevant wings last year to fill vacant posts, train emergency staff and provide modern equipment. Sources added that the board had also approved an emergency motorbike service involving around 50 motorcycles, but no further progress has been made.

An officer said the plan initially included 125cc bikes, but later the CDA decided to procure 200cc or higher motorcycles for faster response. Since the bikes would have to be imported, the project has not moved forward so far.

The CDA originally launched the fire brigade and emergency service, but administrative control shifted to the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad in 2016 before later being transferred back to the CDA.

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