CSSR Training Course for AKAH Begins at Emergency Services Academy

By Dr. Ansab Ali – Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE — A weeklong Collapse Structure Search & Rescue (CSSR) Course has commenced at the Managers Training Center of the Emergency Services Academy for participants from the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH). The initiative aims to strengthen community preparedness and enhance technical rescue capabilities across Pakistan.

Secretary Emergency Services, Dr. Rizwan Naseer, addressed the participants and praised the strong collaboration between the Emergency Services Department and AKAH. He said the training will significantly improve participants’ professional skills, enabling them to support first responders during disasters in accordance with national standards and coordination mechanisms.

Dr. Naseer highlighted that after the 2005 earthquake, the Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER) supported by USAID played a vital role in establishing international-standard training for emergency responders in Pakistan. He noted that CSSR was one of the PEER courses that has now been fully institutionalized within the Emergency Services Academy.

He added that Rescue 1122 has achieved United Nations INSARAG certification, meeting global search and rescue standards — a milestone that enabled the service to participate in international operations such as the Turkiye earthquake response, where rescuers saved lives and recovered victims from collapsed structures.

Dr. Naseer emphasized that internationally certified instructors will lead the CSSR course for AKAH participants, ensuring they gain essential knowledge and professional rescue skills.

Earlier, the Registrar of the Emergency Services Academy briefed the Secretary on the course schedule, objectives, and components. The training is designed to equip participants with modern techniques and a comprehensive understanding of collapse structure search and rescue operations, ensuring effective and well-coordinated emergency response efforts.