Better rescue teams

By our correspondents
September 17, 2016

PM Nawaz has a special knack for building high-quality roads and means of transportation. This is excellent. We appreciate it. However, one aspect of road and train safety has as yet not been targeted. Nawaz Sharif has not developed a world-class rescue system. Just yesterday, we heard that a train accident in Multan left many dead and many stuck inside a passenger train for a long time. There was no light and there was not enough rescue equipment.

It is not rocket science to appreciate that the main concerns here will probably be budgetary limitations. However, funds have to be allocated according to what we need. I do not have access to statistics, but I am sure road-side accidents are killing a large number of Pakistanis, and some of these lives may be saved through appropriate and quick response measures. PM Nawaz Sharif must know that if he wishes to provide funds for this important aspect of public safety, by purchasing up to date equipment and by getting the rescue workers trained inland and abroad, the public will appreciate this.

Irfan U Khattak

Abbottabad