Mock drills held amid war threat

Express Tribune

08-05-2025

In a strong show of patriotism and unity, banners expressing unwavering solidarity with the Pakistan Army popped up at Aabpara Chowk, Islamabad. The public display follows India's unprovoked missile strikes on multiple cities on May 6-7, widely condemned as naked aggression and violation of international laws. PHOTO: RAJA ZAFAR/EXPRESS
The Rawalpindi police, Elite Force, Rescue 1122, and Civil Defence conducted a mock exercise at the district Police Lines headquarters to enhance preparedness for emergency scenarios in response to the threat of Indian aggression and the prevailing war-like situation.
The objective of the drill was to strengthen coordinated and rapid response mechanisms in the event of any emergency.
The mock drill simulated joint operational procedures for handling various emergency situations. Rawalpindi City Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani emphasised that top-tier training and readiness to respond to emergencies were core principles of Punjab Police and that the Rawalpindi Police were fully prepared to deal with any crisis.
Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) in Murree also conducted a mock exercise. The exercise was held following the instructions of Punjab Emergency Services (Rescue 1122) Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Murree Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi, and the district administration.
The purpose of the mock drill was to assess emergency response capabilities, ensure swift access to citizens in distress, relocate affected individuals to safe locations, provide timely rescue services, clear roads, restore traffic flow, and transport the injured to hospitals.
It was a coordinated effort involving all allied departments in the Murree district, aimed at testing their readiness for any unforeseen emergencies.
Participating departments included Rescue 1122 Murree, Punjab Police, PDMA, City Traffic Police, Pakistan Army, Civil Defence, Punjab Tourism Squad, Highway Department, Health Department, Forest Department, Meteorological Department, Education Department, and the Murree Municipal Corporation, among others. All agencies took part using their available resources.
Heads of all allied departments were present during the exercise. DC Shirazi reviewed the rescue operations and evaluated the performance of various departments during the drill.
The drill was conducted on an emergency basis given the current situation, not only to ensure rapid on-site response but also to test inter-departmental coordination and resource readiness in crisis situations.
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Schools asked to prepare emergency evacuation plans
OUR CORRESPONDENT
RAWALPINDI. Amid ongoing military tensions with India, the Department of Education has instructed educational officers to coordinate with school administrations to formulate emergency evacuation plans to ensure the safety of students, teachers and non-teaching staff.
These plans must include clear evacuation routes from every classroom to secure locations such as basements or interior rooms.
Teachers are advised to keep students calm and comfort frightened children by reassuring them that they are safe and by distracting them with stories or drama activities.
Crying children should be comforted with hugs.
In the event of a blackout or attack, students should stay away from windows, switch off electrical appliances, and remain silent.
If an explosion is heard inside the school, students should follow the "Drop, Cover, Hold" protocol—lie down, cover their heads, and take shelter under sturdy furniture.
Schools are also instructed to maintain basic first-aid kits.
Teachers should respond immediately to injuries by stopping bleeding or applying bandages.
All principals, headmasters, teachers, and staff are required to conduct regular drills to ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency.
Schools should create SMS or WhatsApp groups with parents for rapid communication.
Emergency contact numbers for local authorities (police, hospitals) must be readily available.
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Merchants waive profits amid border tensions
our correspondent
RAWALPINDI. The Kiryana Merchant Association has announced the sale of all grocery items under a "No Profit, No Loss" policy for the next 15 days, in response to the ongoing war like situation in the country.
The Association urged the Rawalpindi district administration to increase the supply of sugar and ghee to address the ongoing shortages of these items.
Saleem Parvez Butt, the president of the Central Traders Association, says the central, divisional, and district organisations have strictly prohibited all Kiryana merchants from hoarding due to growing tensions between Pakistan and India.
They have been instructed to sell household items such as pulses, white flour, rice, flour, sugar, tea, ghee, oil, and milk in packets at the same price at which they were purchased, without making any profit. Merchants have also been directed not to engage in hoarding.
He emphasised that during these challenging wartime conditions, all Kiryana shopkeepers, from small to large businesses, in local markets and wholesale outlets, should follow this directive to provide relief to the public. The central organisation in Lahore has issued similar guidelines, and in the Rawalpindi Division, the policy has been implemented starting today, Thursday, for the next two weeks, Butt added.
He further mentioned that there is a shortage of sugar and ghee in the open market, urging the district administration to immediately increase the supply of both items. Additionally, he called for an immediate halt to the issuance of fines, raids, and the penalisation of shopkeepers.