Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122)

 he Secretary Emergency Services Department, Dr. Rizwan Naseer,

 Minister for Emergency Services, Khawaja Salman Rafiq
 Rescue 1122 has been established under the Punjab Emergency Service Act 2006
 Rescue 1122 has also established over 5000 Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)
 Punjab Emergency Service (PES)
 THE Rescue Cadet Corps (RCC) program TO train over 1 million Rescue Scout (Volunteers) to established
healthy, resilient and safer communities in Pakistan.

Rescue 1122 - 10 Years Performance Report

 The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) has been established under the Punjab Emergency Service Act, 2006 for
professional management of emergencies such as road traffic accidents, building collapse, fires, hazardous material
incidents and disasters. The establishment of Rescue 1122 was necessitated after failure of repeated attempts to
revitalize and modernize the Civil Defence organization and Municipal Fire Brigades.

THE PUNJAB EMERGENCY SERVICE ACT 2006

[1]
 (ACT IV of 2006)

[19 June 2006.]

An Act for the establishment of the

Punjab Emergency Service to deal with emergencies.

Preamble. – Whereas it is expedient to establish an emergency service for the purpose of maintaining a
state of preparedness to deal with emergencies, to provide timely response, rescue and emergency
medical treatment to the persons affected by emergencies and recommending measures to be taken by
related organizations to avoid emergencies;

It is hereby enacted as follows:-

1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Emergency Service
Act 2006.

(2) It extends to the whole of the Province of the Punjab.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions .– In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant to the subject or context–

(a) "Board” means the District Emergency Board constituted under section 8;

(b) "Council” means the Punjab Emergency Council established under section 6;

[(c) * ** * * * * * * * * * * *]
[2]

(d) "Director General” means the person appointed under section 9;

(e) "district” means a district as defined in the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001 (XIII of 2001);
 (f) "district emergency officer” means the emergency officer incharge of the Service in a district;

(g) "emergency” means a serious and potentially dangerous situation requiring immediate action such
as an accident, hazardous material incident, fire, explosion, natural or manmade disaster;

(h) "emergency area” means the area affected by an emergency;

(i) "emergency officer” means an officer appointed under section 12;

(j) "Government” means the Government of the Punjab;

(k) "non-governmental organization” includes any private agency or body working voluntarily for the
welfare of the persons affected by an emergency;

(l) "premises” includes land, place, building, vehicle, vessel or aircraft or any part of premises;

(m) "rescuer” means a member of the service appointed under section 13;

(n) "rescue station” means a place where an office of the Service is established;

(o) "Service” means the Punjab Emergency Service or the Rescue established under section 4; and

(p) "volunteer” means a person who is registered as such by the Service or engaged by a rescuer in
emergency area to assist the Service in the exercise of its functions under this Act.

3. Act not in derogation of other laws .– This Act is not in derogation of any other law applicable in the
Province and does not absolve any other person from his responsibility to take necessary measures to
protect and save the lives and properties of a person in an emergency.

4. Establishment of the Service .– (1) There shall be established a Service to be called the Punjab
Emergency Service or the Rescue to perform such functions as are assigned to it under this Act.

[(2) The Service shall be an independent administrative department of the Government.]

[3]
5. Powers and functions of the Service .– (1) The powers and functions of the Service shall be to–

(a) maintain a state of preparedness to deal with emergencies;

(b) provide timely response, rescue and emergency medical treatment to the victims of an
emergency including medical and surgical emergencies;

(c) establish a system for rapid communication, exchange of information and quick response to
combat or deal with an emergency;

(d) arrange for a universal toll free emergency dial-in-number as may be allocated by the Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority to be used throughout Punjab;

(e) play a lead role and coordinate the working of other organizations or agencies which have lawful
authority to respond to an emergency;

(f) arrange transport where necessary for carrying persons requiring emergency medical treatment
from the emergency area to the nearest hospital or health care unit having arrangements for
emergency medical care and treatment;

(g) establish community emergency response teams through enlistment, training, coordination and
supervision of volunteers to assist the Service in safety promotion and management of emergencies;

(h) impart training and grant certificates to rescuers, volunteers and other private persons for due
performance of emergency management duties;

(i) establish direct contact with local and international organizations and training institutions to
maintain the Service according to international standards;

(j) collect, compile, maintain and analyse emergency response data and statistics relating to
emergencies and to use it for research and prevention of such emergencies;
 (k) implement the regulations framed by the Council for dealing with emergencies in accordance with
the provisions of this Act;

(l) suggest measures for the prevention or mitigation of hazards endangering public safety on roads,
public parks and other public places particularly exhibitions, trade shows, amusement parks, and fairs
with regard to public safety provisions;

(m) encourage, facilitate, and train staff of non-governmental organizations and educational
institutions for emergency management;

(n) register and ensure minimum standards and code of conduct to be followed by rescue vehicles,
ambulances and patient transportation services;

(o) coordinate and maintain an effective liaison with all other organizations managing emergencies;

(p) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Council to achieve the purposes of
this Act; and

(q) perform functions that are ancillary or incidental to any of the above functions.

(2) The Service shall have the authority to accept donations in the shape of land, vehicles, equipment
and other such items which may facilitate the functioning of the Service and all such donations shall be
used, maintained and disposed of by the Service in the manner prescribed in the rules or regulations.

(3) The Service may, with the approval of the Council, establish such local or district offices as may be
considered necessary for effective and efficient working of the Service.

6. Punjab Emergency Council .– (1) There shall be constituted a Council to be known as the Punjab
Emergency Council comprising of the following:

(a) Chief Minister of the Punjab; (Chairman)

[(aa) Minister for Law, Punjab; (Vice Chairman)]

[4]
 (b) Chief Secretary, Punjab; (Member)

(c) four Members of the Provincial Assembly which shall include one female and one opposition
member to be nominated by the Speaker; (Members)

(d) Secretary, Health Department; (Member)

(e) Secretary, Home Department; (Member)

(f) Secretary, Local Government Department; (Member)

(g) Secretary, Transport Department; (Member)

(h) Provincial Police Officer; (Member)

(i) Director General, Provincial Environmental Protection Agency; (Member)

(j) Provincial Commissioner Relief, Punjab; (Member)

(k) Director General of the Service; and (Member)

(l) two representatives, [5]one each from the Government teaching hospitals and non- Governmental
organizations, to be nominated by the Government, for a period of three years. (Members)

(2) The quorum for the meetings of the Council shall be seven.

(3) The Director General shall be the ex-officio secretary of the Council.

(4) The Council shall meet at least once in three months.

(5) The Council may co-opt or invite any person depending on the requirement of its meeting.

[(6) The Chairman or the Vice Chairman shall convene and preside the meeting.]
[6]
7. Functions of the Council .– (1) The functions of the Council shall be to–

(a) lay down the policy and issue directions for efficient, effective and expeditious actions in dealing
with emergencies;

(b) oversee the working of the Service and the training institutions established or controlled by the
Service;

(c) issue regulations to prescribe the minimum standards for the officers and staff to maintain
efficiency and effectiveness of the Service;

(d) review and analyze statistics relating to all emergency incidents, accidents and disasters and the
actions which have been taken by the Service;

(e) approve the annual budget of the Service;

(f) make recommendations to the Government for the prevention and mitigation of hazards
endangering public safety; and

(g) determine the number of rescue stations in different areas and the staff and equipment to be
provided to the Service for achieving the objectives of adequate standards of emergency care.

(2) The Council may delegate any of its functions to any body or authority of the Service.

8. District Emergency Board .– (1) The Council may constitute a District Emergency Board for a district
for the prevention and effective management of emergency in the district.

(2) The Board shall have such powers and shall perform such functions as may be assigned to it by the
Council.

9. Director General . – (1) The Government shall appoint a Director General who shall be the chief
executive officer of the Service and shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be
specified by the Council.
 (2) The Director General shall be a person who–

(a) is a postgraduate in emergency management or an emergency subject or has specialization in

management of trauma or emergency patients or is a medical postgraduate;

(b) has adequate knowledge, formal training and expertise in the field of emergency management;
and

(c) is not more than sixty years of age.

[(3) The person who has served as Director General for a period of at least three years, shall be
[7]

deemed to be a regular employee of the Service.

(4) The Director General shall exercise all powers of an Administrative Secretary to the Government.]

(5) The Director General shall be responsible for the day to day administration of the affairs of the
Service and he may [8][* * *] appoint, post and transfer any of the employees working under him in the
Service.

(6) The Director General shall follow and comply with such directions of the Council as may be given to
him in writing in the public interest.

(7) Subject to the directions of the Council, the Director General may delegate any of his powers or
functions to a Director or to an officer of the Service.

[10. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * *]
[9]

11. Appointment [10][and conditions of service] of officers, servants, etc .– (1) The Service may,
from time to time, employ such officers or servants or appoint such experts or consultants, as it may
consider necessary for the performance of its functions.

(2) All members of the Service shall be liable to be assigned any emergency duty in accordance with the
need of the time.
 (3) The number and nature of the posts in the Service, necessary criteria and the manner of
appointment thereto shall be determined by the Council and the employees appointed to these posts
shall receive such remuneration, allowances and privileges and shall be subject to such terms and
conditions of service as are laid down by the Council.

(4) In the performance of their duties and functions, the employees of the Service and the volunteers
shall abide by the directions and instructions of the Director General.

[(5) The services of all officers and Rescuers shall be regularized by the competent authority on
[11]

completion of three years of service subject to good performance with the conditions that they are not
obese and physically fit.

(6) Time scale up-gradation shall be granted by the competent authority to the regular employees
having stagnant posts, after completing seven years of service in each grade subject to good
performance with the conditions that they are not obese and physically fit.

(7) The Director General shall exercise the powers of competent authority for the officers of BS-17 to 19,
Director or Divisional Emergency Officer under their wing or division for BS-14 to 16 and Deputy Director
or District Emergency Officer for the staff under their wing or district from BS-1 to BS-12.]

12. Emergency officer .– (1) There shall be emergency officers appointed by the Service to perform the
field operations of the Service.

(2) No person shall be appointed as an emergency officer unless he is–

(a) a medical graduate or post-graduate in a related science subject or has a professional degree in a
related subject; and

(b) physically and mentally fit to perform field operations.

[(3) One of the emergency officers shall be promoted as the Divisional and District Emergency Officers
[12]

on the basis of his performance and seniority-cum-fitness.]

 (4) The district emergency officer shall be the head of the Service in the district and shall be assisted by
all emergency officers and rescuers in the district.

[(5) The Emergency Officers or Assistant Directors in BS-17 shall be eligible for promotion by the
[13]

selection committee notified by the Government to District Emergency Officers or Deputy Directors in
BS-18, Divisional Emergency Officers or Directors in BS-19 and Director General in BS-20 subject to
availability of seats.

(6) All promotions shall be subject to completion of seven years of good service in each grade, passing
promotion courses and if they are not obese and physically fit.]

13. Rescuer .– (1) There shall be rescuers appointed by the Service to perform the field operations of the
Service.

(2) No person shall be appointed as a rescuer who–

(i) is more than thirty years of age; and

(ii) has not cleared the educational and fitness criteria specified by the Service.

(3) A rescuer shall perform such field duties and functions as are assigned to him by the Service.

[(4) A rescuer shall retire on attaining the age of fifty years if he is not adjusted in the Patient Transfer
[14]

Service of the Service or any other post in Service subject to good performance.]

(5) Where a rescuer is retired under sub-section (4), he shall be entitled to such benefits as may be
prescribed by the Council.

[(6) The Rescuers in BS-11 shall be eligible for promotion by the selection committee notified by the
[15]

Government to Lead Rescuers or Instructors in BS-12, Station Coordinators or Lead Instructors in BS-14,
Rescue & Safety Officers, Control Room In-charges or Senior Instructors in BS-16 and Emergency
Officers in BS-17 subject to availability of seats.
 (7) All promotions shall be subject to completion of seven years of good service in each grade, passing
promotion courses if they are not obese and physically fit.]

14. Emergency Service Academy .– (1) The Service shall establish an Emergency Service Academy for
the purposes of running short or long courses with local or international collaboration and award
certificates to successful person.

(2) The Academy may also arrange for the training of the members of the Service, volunteers and other
individuals or workers of organization, public or private, to be equipped with the knowledge of dealing
with all possible situations relating to prevention and management of emergencies.

15. Emergency Service Fund .– (1) The Service shall have a Fund comprising of–

(a) the grant provided by the Federal and Provincial Governments for the establishment, maintenance
and performance of the Service; and

(b) the donations or contributions received or generated from private persons or public, local, foreign
or international organizations.

(2) The Fund shall be maintained in a scheduled bank and shall be operated in accordance with the rules
or directions of the Council.

(3) The Fund shall be regularly monitored by the Council and audited in the same manner as is done in
the case of the funds of other Government Departments.

(4) The annual audit report of the Fund shall be made available to the general public and submitted to
the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.

(5) No person from the Service shall organize, conduct or take part in any proceedings for collecting or
soliciting money or property from the public except the person authorized by the Council and in
accordance with such conditions as may be laid down by the Council.
16. Act in aid of the Service .– (1) Every member of the police force in the Punjab and all members of
other organizations shall act in aid of the Service.

(2) The police acting in aid of the Service shall control and divert the traffic in or around an emergency
area to facilitate and ensure free movement of emergency rescue vehicles and the persons dealing with
an emergency and to prevent within the emergency area any theft, dacoity or loss of the property of the
persons involved in the emergency.

(3) It shall be obligatory upon all telecommunication operators, companies, corporations or other
authorities concerned to provide free of cost access to its subscribers to avail the universal emergency
dial-in-number as notified by the Service, without any prefix or suffix for the whole of the Punjab.

17. Powers to manage emergencies .– (1) An emergency officer or a rescuer, in providing emergency
services, may take any reasonable measures to–

(a) protect persons from any danger or potential danger associated with an emergency situation;

(b) protect persons trapped in a vehicle, receptacle, vessel or otherwise endangered; and

(c) protect themselves or other persons or vehicles from danger, potential danger, assault or battery
from other person.

(2) Without limiting the measures that may be taken for a purpose specified in clause (a) or (b) of
subsection (1), an emergency officer or a rescuer may, for that purpose–

(a) enter any premises, vehicle or vessel;

(b) open any receptacle, using such force as is reasonably necessary;

(c) bring any apparatus or equipment onto a premises;

(d) remove from or otherwise deal with, any article or material in the area;
 (e) remove (wholly or partially) or damage any premises, vehicle, vessel or receptacle;

(f) cause the gas or electricity supply or motor or any other source of energy to any premises, vehicle,
vessel or receptacle to be shut off or disconnected;

(g) request any person or organization to take all reasonable measures to assist the Service; and

(h) administer such life safety procedures as are consistent with the training and competency of the
emergency officer or rescuer.

(3) Without limiting the measures that may be taken for a purpose specified in clause (c) of subsection
(1), a rescuer or an officer authorized by the Service may, for that purpose, require any person not to
enter into or remain within the emergency area and may use any appropriate public place for
emergency warning and refuge centre or for purposes of community awareness.

(4) No person shall refuse to comply with the directions of the rescuer or the person specified in
subsection (2) and if a person or organization does not comply with such directions, the rescuer or the
aforesaid officer may use such force as is reasonably necessary to ensure compliance.

18. Obstruction or hindrance .– No person shall willfully obstruct or hinder the Director General,
Director, emergency officer, the rescuer, or any other person acting with his authority, in the exercise of a
function under this Act.

19. Immunity against certain liabilities .– (1) An act or omission committed by an employee of the
Service, or a volunteer, shall not, if committed in good faith for the purpose of exercising the functions of
or assisting the Service, subject such employee or volunteer personally to any legal action, liability, claim
or demand.

(2) All actions, proceedings and claims against any such employee or a volunteer in relation to any act
done or omitted to be done in good faith, shall be defended and indemnified by the Service.
 (3) Subject to the rules, any information received by the Service shall be deemed to be the privileged
communication between the informer and the Service:
Provided that the Director General may, in a special case and by order in writing, waive such privilege.

20. Life insurance .– All members of the Service shall contribute to the salary saving life insurance
scheme and compensation in case of injury or death in the line of duty shall be provided by the Service to
such extent as may be prescribed by the Council.

21. Public servants .– All members of the Service shall be deemed to be public servants within the
meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act No. XLV of 1860).

22. Emergency ambulance and rescue vehicles .– (1) No person shall use any vehicle as an
emergency ambulance or rescue vehicle unless it satisfies such requirements as are laid down by the
Service.

(2) Where a vehicle does not fulfill the requirements laid down by the Service, but is used as a patient
transport vehicle, it shall not use any siren or a warning light other than a round yellow warning light.

(3) No person, other than that belonging to a law enforcing agency, shall use red, blue or orange light or
any siren on his vehicle except where the vehicle satisfies the requirements prescribed for an
emergency ambulance or vehicle.

(4) No person shall–

(a) use the words "rescue” or "rescue service” or any other similar name, title or description without
the written authority of the Director General;

(b) falsely represent that he is associated with the Service unless such an association exists;

(c) impersonate as an officer of the Service; or

(d) use any insignia of the Service in any manner contrary to that approved by the Director General.
23. Right of way to emergency rescue vehicles and ambulances .– (1) A driver of a vehicle or a
member of the public or traffic police, to the extent practicable, shall make all possible efforts to give clear
and uninterrupted passage to–

(a) an emergency rescue vehicle or an ambulance with activated warning devices, siren or warning
lights and duly registered with the Service; and

(b) an emergency officer or a rescuer or any person acting under their direction, who appears to be
doing any act for the purposes of this Act.

24. False or obnoxious calls .– No person shall make a false or an obnoxious call on the emergency dial-
in-number or in any other manner try to represent that emergency circumstance exists requiring utilization
of any resources of the Service.

25. Offences and punishments .– (1) Any person who willfully or without any reasonable excuse,
disobeys or violates any provision of this Act, shall be deemed to have committed a bail able offence
punishable with simple imprisonment for six months or with fine not exceeding rupees fifty thousand or
with both.

(2) No prosecution under this Act shall be lodged without the previous sanction of the Director General
which shall not be given except after serving a notice on the person concerned and giving him
reasonable opportunity of hearing.

(3) No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the first class shall try an offence under this Act.

26. Rules .– The Government may frame rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.

27. Regulations .– The Council may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act or the rules for or
with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed, specified or
determined by the Council for carrying out the purposes or giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

________________________________________
[1]
This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 9 June 2006; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 15 June 2006; and was published
in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 19 June 2006, pages 4823-4830.

[2]
The following clause omitted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021):
“(c) “Director” means the person appointed under section 10;”

[3]
Substituted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021), for the following:
“(2) The Service shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to enter into contract, acquire, hold and
dispose of property, and may by its name sue or be sued.”

[4]
Inserted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021).

[5]
Inserted by the Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act 2014 (IV of 2014).

[6]
Inserted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021).

[7]
Substituted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021), for the following:
“(3) The Director General shall be appointed initially for a period of three years but the Council may extend his tenure keeping in view his
performance and may remove him before the expiry of his tenure if he is not physically or mentally fit or is incapable of performing his duties.
(4) The Director General shall be paid such salary, allowances and other benefits and shall be subject to such terms and conditions as are laid
down in his service contract."

[8]
The expression “, subject to the regulations,” omitted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021).

[9]
The following Section 10 omitted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021):
“10. Director.– (1) There shall be not more than six Directors of the Service as may be appointed by the Government.
(2) A person to be appointed as a Director shall at least hold a masters or postgraduate degree in the subject related to the nature of his duties
in the Service and is a person who has adequate expertise and experience in any relevant field including emergency management, law and
finance.
(3) The Directors shall be paid such salary, allowances and other benefits and shall be subject to such terms and conditions of Service as are
laid down by the Council.;”

[10]
Inserted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021).

[11]
Inserted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021).

[12]
Substituted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021), for the following:
“(3) One of the emergency officers in the district shall be selected for appointment as district emergency officer on the basis of his performance
and seniority as emergency officer.”
[13]
Inserted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021).

[14]
Substituted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021), for the following:
“(4) A rescuer shall be liable to be retired on attaining the age of forty five years if he cannot be adjusted on any other post in the Service.

[15]
Inserted by the Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Act 2021 (II of 2021).
The Punjab Community Safety Act 2021
Leave, Efficiency and Discipline Rules 2007