HEALTH NEWS REPORT
Report by: Mian Jahangir Qadir, Health Reporter Lahore
INAUGURAL CEREMONY HELD AT SERVICES INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (SIMS) LAHORE — PROVINCIAL MINISTERS ATTEND
LAHORE (HEALTH DESK) —
The BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) training program for CIVIL DEFENCE VOLUNTEERS as MASTER TRAINERS commenced at the SERVICES INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (SIMS) Lahore.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Provincial Minister for Health & Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order KHWAJA SALMAN RAFIQ and Provincial Minister for Transport BILAL AKBAR KHAN as Chief Guests.
The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner Lahore Syed Musa Raza, Principal SIMS Prof. Zohra Khanum, MS Services Hospital Dr. Abid Mahmood Ghori, Additional Secretary Home Asma Ejaz Cheema, ADCG Hafiz Mudassar, Director Civil Defence Tasneem Ali Khan, along with a large number of volunteers, medical professionals, and institutional representatives.
On this occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafiq distributed Appreciation Certificates among the volunteers showing outstanding performance during training.
He said:
“At SIMS, volunteers are being trained in BASIC LIFE SUPPORT to respond effectively during natural disasters, accidents, or medical emergencies — every citizen must be capable of saving lives.”
Khawaja Salman Rafiq shared that his father served as Chief Warden Civil Defence during the 1965 PAK-INDIA WAR, playing a vital role in promoting the Civil Defence movement.
He appreciated the efforts of Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, and officers of the Home Department for strengthening and organizing the Civil Defence system.
He further highlighted that a joint Civil Defence program with CPSP was launched 12 years ago during Mian Shehbaz Sharif’s government, and today, its impact is visible across Punjab.
According to him,
“Over 164,000 individuals have registered on the Civil Defence online portal, which reflects a strong spirit of public service among citizens.”
Provincial Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan, addressing the ceremony, said:
“Today, Pakistan urgently needs a well-organized Civil Defence structure. National defence is not only about weapons — it is about discipline, training, and volunteer spirit. Pakistan has always given a strong response to Indian aggression.”
He announced that he himself is registering as a Civil Defence Volunteer and will actively support the expansion of this initiative.
Bilal Akbar Khan congratulated Director Civil Defence Tasneem Ali Khan and the organizing team for the successful conduct of the training program.
NOTE:
The newly trained MASTER TRAINERS will soon begin conducting BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) sessions across the province to empower more volunteers at the community level, ensuring rapid emergency response and life-saving capacity among citizens.
HEALTH, SERVICE & AWARENESS IN ACTION
(Report by: Mian Jahangir Qadir, Health Reporter Lahore)
