Emergency?

As political rallies and protests fill our streets, an often-overlooked consequence emerges – ambulances carrying patients in critical need become trapped in the chaos, with their path to lifesaving care blocked by the very streets meant to take them to safety. Time and again, I have witnessed how the total shutdown of roads for events hinders emergency services, turning critical minutes into fatal delays. Ambulances are far more than just vehicles; they are the thin line between life and death for people in urgent medical need. Within those flashing lights and sirens are lives hanging in the balance – critically ill patients, severely injured individuals, or women in labour, each rushing toward medical care that could determine their survival.

Yet too often, these essential lifelines are obstructed during protests and public gatherings, exposing poor planning and a troubling disregard for human life. The cost of delaying an ambulance is too often a preventable death. It is crucial that leaders organising public events, whether political or religious, recognise the lifesaving role of ambulances and prioritise their clear passage.

Muhammad Shahjahan Memon

Islamabad