Altaf Hamid Rao,
MIRPUR (AJK): Like rest of the world , Universal Civil Defense Day was observed in Azad Jammu Kashmir on Friday with the renewal of the pledge to frustrate every threat of the enemy to the frontiers of the motherland shoulder to shoulder the valiant armed forces of Pakistan besides in case of every other emergent situation both in peace and war times as and when required. Special ceremonies were held in all ten districts of AJK including capital city of Muzaffarabad as well as Mirpur, Kotli, Bhimbher, Rawalakot and other stations under the auspices of the AJK Civil Defense Department to observe the day.
In Mirpur, major ceremony to observe the day was held under the auspices of the local Civil Defense Department. Walk of the people from all walks of life including the civil defense volunteers at the main city street was hall mark of the day.
“The commemoration of the International Civil Defense Day this day every year renews the entry into force of the ICDI – International Civil Defence Organization’s constitution as an inter-governmental organization in 1972 with two major objectives of serving for the safety and security of the masses both in peace and war times in case of any eventuality – besides other nation-building institutions”, said speakers while addressing the ceremony.
Besides the civil defense volunteers, the volunteers of upcoming 1122 rescue service, workers of PWD, Highways, Electricity, Information, Health and Education departments as well as the school’s students presented practical demonstration of civil defense on this occasion.
Addressing the ceremony speakers including the City Administrator and Chief Warden Tahir Mahmood Mirza, President District Bar Association Ch. Tariq Bashir, the Civil Defense experts and others said that the world civil defense day was being observed throughout the world Friday in line with the charter of the United Nations aimed at to raise awareness among the masses to deal with any eventuality in case of any emergent situation.
Speakers underlined that this year, the world civil defense day is being observed in South East Asia when the defense forces of the two nuclear arch rivals – India and Pakistan were at the eye-ball-to-eye ball situation because of the traditional aggressive posture of India following her recent frequent unprovoked activities at the Line of Control and Working boundary in Jammu Kashmir besides the international border.
Speakers warned India to refrain from launching any misadventure again against Pakistan or AJK – or be ready to face the music similar to recent shooting down of its warplanes by the valiant armed forces of Pakistan at the LoC for violating the airspace of Pakistan. They vowed that the people of AJK would fighter shoulder to shoulder with the brave armed forces of Pakistan for the defense of inch-after-inch of the motherland including AJK in case of every kind of aggression from across the frontiers.
Describing the world civil defense day as the day of renewal of pledge to strengthen the civil defense harmonious to the need of the modern age for the sake of serving the country whenever required to meet any emergency, speakers said that in view of the importance of the civil defense, the government was taking effective steps to raise awareness among various classes of the civil society including students for getting the civil defense training so that they could also extend their due share for serving the country whenever required, they added.
Recalling the horrific memories of the devastating year 2005 earthquake in Northern parts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and adjoining KPK province, speakers said had there been sufficient civil defense arrangements for rescue, there would have been lesser loss of men and material due to the history’s worst natural catastrophe. They said that this tragedy had highlighted the significance of the role of the civil defense to deal with any emergent situation.
Veterans representing diverse segments of the civil society including students, teachers, journalists and the government officials attended the ceremony.