Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while addressing the 14th anniversary function of Rescue 1122 on Monday, said that all obstructions in the way of this rescue service have been removed. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar is heartily in its favour. Its good days have come and the plan we had made while establishing this institution will now be updated according to it. New ambulance vehicles, most modern equipment and all essential facilities will be provided to the staff. Soon after coming into power, former Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif had also tried to scrap it like our other projects but due to public and media pressure, prayers of the people and effective legislation done for its establishment, he could not do so. On arrival at the function, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was very enthusiastically welcomed and flower petals were heavily showered on him. Rescue 1122 Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer presented him with an honourary shield. Pervaiz Elahi said during our five years’ government, we had done ideal and record works in all sectors including education and health and other provinces had also emulated Punjab in establishing their rescue service. “I had firstly paid attention to the establishment of 1122 for saving lives of the people and its response time is very ideal whereas in the emergencies of hospitals, special beds, doctors and free medicines were provided,” he said adding that Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as the prime minister got a bill passed by the National Assembly that when a police case is brought, the doctor will first see the patient, the first information report will be registered afterwards. Elahi said that the basic problems of the institutions will be solved shortly and emergency allowance will also be restored. For this, the CM, finance minister and Law Minister Basharat Raja have also given assurance. “I want that when trained rescue staff retires, they should not sit at home but their services should be availed in rural health centres in villages and work in this regard is already underway,” he said while awarding shields to the staff for their performance. On this occasion, Rescue 1122 DG Dr Rizwan Naseer while paying rich tributes to Elahi said that from 2004 to 2018, this institution has gone through many ups and downs. Published in Daily Times, October 16th 2018.