Islamabad, Oct 23: Pakistan Triumphs at 2024 International Rescue Challenge. At the International Rescue Challenge 2024, the Pakistan Rescue Team won, and the Philippine team came in second.
Leading rescue teams from China, the UK, South Korea, and Malaysia participated in the exercise, which was hosted at the Emergency Services Academy in Lahore. Teams participated in confined space extrication, trauma treatment, fire fitness, deep well rescue, height rescue, and other tasks.
Prominent individuals such as US Consul General Kristin K. Hawkins, Emergency Services Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, and Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan attended the awards event.
Malik Ahmad Khan lauded Rescue 1122 for its crucial work throughout Punjab and commended the winning team for their commitment to humanitarian initiatives. Khawaja Salman Rafique emphasized that the Pakistan Rescue Team is now South Asia’s first rescue team to receive UN-INSARAG certification. In addition, he declared that 274 delegates from 23 nations would begin the Asia Pacific Earthquake Response Exercise.
Winston Chang, UN-INSARAG Global Lead, praised the cooperation and teamwork displayed at the event, while Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Secretary of Emergency Services, gave a reflection on the accomplishments of Rescue 1122, which has trained more than 26,500 personnel and saved 15.9 million lives.
US Consul General Hawkins reiterated the US commitment to regional resilience and recognized USAID’s contribution to improving Pakistan’s preparedness for disasters. The earthquake response drill started on Wednesday, while the International Rescue Challenge ended on Tuesday.
