Islamabad – May 1, 2025: In response to rising conflict fears, schools in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are turning their playing fields into first aid training camps.
This initiative is designed to teach students life-saving skills and emergency response procedures in the event of war.
Thirteen-year-old Konain Bibi, dressed in a fluorescent vest and helmet, participated in her first aid lesson with full attention.
“With India threatening us, we may face war, and we all need to help each other,” she remarked, highlighting the tense atmosphere among local children.
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Pakistan has raised alarm, citing “credible intelligence” suggesting that India may be planning a military strike.
Diplomatic ties between the nuclear-armed neighbors have sharply deteriorated after a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, IIOJK, on April 22.
India has accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, which killed 26 people, while Pakistan has denied any involvement and offered to cooperate in a transparent investigation.
The escalating conflict has prompted emergency training in over 6,000 schools across Pakistan, including nearly 1,200 along the Line of Control (LoC).
This week, first aid lessons began, focusing on practical skills such as evacuating buildings safely, using inflatable slides, and providing first aid to the injured.
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In Muzaffarabad, the largest city in AJK, over a dozen schools have already conducted training sessions.
Abdul Basit Moughal, a Civil Defence trainer, stressed that schools are among the first to be impacted during emergencies.
Students like 12-year-old Faizan Ahmed are learning vital skills such as first aid and fire safety.
Local residents, including shopkeeper Iftikhar Ahmad Mir, are deeply concerned for children’s safety, advising them to stay close to home after school to avoid danger.
