President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday called upon Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to further enhance its capacity for broadening the scope of its humanitarian activities and also to serve the humanity in case of any disaster at national as well as international level.
During a specially convened extra ordinary general meeting of PRCS here at Bilawal House, the President said that the ever-changing socio-economic, cultural and political scenarios of society with many emerging challenges demand greater role from an organization which is dedicated to serve humanity in accordance with its fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
The President said that a dynamic organization must continue to evolve as per the changing requirements to respond to the emerging situations and to play its role for the service of humanity.
He stressed the need for making PRCS a self sufficient organization to confront natural disasters and calamities as international assistance in rescue and rehabilitation activities is not always available at hand.
While expressing satisfaction over the performance of PRCS in alleviating sufferings of the people and response during the times of natural calamities, the President expressed the hope that by implementing its Strategy 2015, which aims to extend the geographical reach of the society and enhance its capacities in the areas of disaster management, health & care, youth & volunteerism, image building and being financially self reliant,the Society would grow to a better position to serve the humanity in an effective manner.
Those who were present during the meeting included presidents of PRCS’s provincial branches Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khosa, Acting Governor Sindh Nisar Khuhro, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Syed Masood Kauser, Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, Pir Karam Ali Shah, President PRCS Gilgit-Baltistan branch, Dr.Firdus Ashiq Awan, Federal Minister for National Regulations & Services, M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General to the President, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Federal Secretary, National Regulations & Services Division, Abdul Wajid Rana, Federal Secretary, Finance Division, Ch. Rashid Ahmed, Federal Secretary Information, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Ch. M. Nawaz, Chairperson PRCS and other officials of Red Crescent belonging to federal and provincial PRCS.
Federal Minister for National Regulations & Services Dr Firdous Ashique Awan presented an overview of PRCS in delivering efficient, transparent and ready help to the victims of natural calamities in different parts of the country. She thanked the President for convening extra ordinary general meeting of PRCS.
Secretary General PRCS Dr. Mehboob Sardar, in his presentation, highlighted the organizational strength and arrangements to face the natural calamities. He informed the meeting that PRCS has 89 district branches, out of 143 districts with 43 disaster management cells.
The PRCS, he said, today has 125 health units, 7 blood banks and 103 ambulances all over the country. Referring to rescue teams, he informed the meeting that PRCS has young motivated teams of 253,000 volunteers, 120,000 trained first aid persons and 443 trained disaster response teams members. The PRCS team is equipped with true state-of-the-art disaster response centres, one each in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad, AKJ, he said.
Dr.Firdous Ashique Awan informed the meeting that in preparation for any eventuality of floods this year, the PRCS has already formulated its Contingency Plans through a consultative process with the Provincial, State, Regional Branches and donors.
Based on a medium impact scenario, the PRCS with support of ICRC, IFRC and other National Societies, has planned to provide assistance to approximately 304,000 people with food, shelter, non food items, health care, water and sanitation facilities, psycho-social support and restoring family links facility. This support will be extended throughout the country. If needs increase, then efforts would be made to enhance the support, she informed the meeting.
The President while appreciating successful efforts of the PRCS management in providing assistance to over 4 million people during the floods of 2010 and one million people during the Sindh floods of 2011, complimented the entire staff, volunteers and the management of PRCS for their services for the humanity and assured Government’s continued support and patronage to the Society in its mission.
President Asif Ali Zardari called upon the provinces to allocate funds for the organization and to look into land requirements of the organization for setting up disaster management centres. He also directed the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to provide data to PRCS free of cost to enable the organization to finalize contingency plans for the areas likely to be affected by rains and floods. The meeting unanimously adopted the inclusion of six personalities on the board of governors of PRCS. They are: Dr Adeeb Rizvi, Dr Abul Bari Khan, Mrs Perveen Magsi, Syeda Fiza Gilani, Syeda Sughra Imam and Mrs Asma Arbab Alamgir. The board of governors also approved the annual budget 2012 of PRCS.
