Dr Rizwan Briefs Russian Delegation on Punjab Emergency Service’s Integrated Response System

By Dr Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: A high-level delegation of Russia’s Emergency Services and Disaster Management Ministry (EMERCOM), led by Melnik Dmitry Nikolaevich, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, visited the Emergency Services Headquarters and Emergency Services Academy in Lahore on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation, joint training and professional capacity building.

The visit aimed to familiarise the delegation with the operational framework, integrated emergency response system, disaster management capabilities and specialised training facilities of the Punjab Emergency Service Department (Rescue 1122).

During the visit, the Russian delegation toured the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), where officials briefed them on emergency call management, response coordination and the deployment of emergency resources to incident sites.

The delegation also visited the Emergency Monitoring and Research Centre (EMRC) and received a briefing on the role of research and development in risk assessment, disaster mitigation and emergency preparedness.

At the Emergency Services Academy, the delegates observed specialised training activities, practical demonstrations and advanced training simulators used to prepare rescuers for a wide range of emergency situations.

Secretary of the Emergency Services Department and Founder of Rescue 1122, Dr Rizwan Naseer, welcomed the delegation and briefed its members on the development of the service from an ambulance operation initially established in Lahore into a comprehensive emergency response system serving communities across Punjab.

Dr Rizwan Naseer informed the delegation that Rescue 1122 had responded to more than 21.3 million emergencies across Punjab. He also highlighted the Emergency Services Academy’s role in providing specialised training to emergency professionals from across Pakistan and the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (UN-INSARAG) certification of the Pakistan Rescue Team (PRT).

Melnik Dmitry Nikolaevich highlighted the longstanding friendly relations between Russia and Pakistan, recalling the participation of Russian rescuers in relief operations following Pakistan’s devastating 2005 earthquake. The delegation also referred to Russia’s humanitarian assistance during various emergency situations.

The Russian representatives expressed hope that continued engagement between EMERCOM and Rescue 1122 would open new avenues for bilateral cooperation, joint training programmes and professional capacity building.

They also emphasised opportunities for exchanging expertise in specialised rescue operations, firefighting equipment, heavy rescue vehicles, chemical emergency response and professional safety equipment.

The visit underscored the potential for strengthening professional collaboration between the emergency services of Russia and Pakistan, particularly in disaster response, specialised rescue operations and the development of emergency management capabilities.