Islamabad:
While hostilities were recently advancing between Pakistan and India, the authorities have accelerated the preparation of civil defense by forming more than 13,000 people, including 400 women, in emergency interventions and public security protocols, the National Assembly was informed on Wednesday.
During the current session chaired by Vice-President Syed Ghumlam Mustafa Shah, the Minister of State for National Health, Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had initially announced a training in civil defense for 9,000 citizens, but had exceeded his objective due to growing demand in the middle of the crisis.
“Until now, 13,000 people have been trained, 12,000 men and 400 women,” said Dr. Bharath at home during questions.
He said the civil defense force had played a key role in recent emergency operations, especially in the transport of the wounded in hospitals during climbing along the border.
“We also have provincial level data concerning training and preparation,” he added, noting that civil defense offices are operational across the country.
The disclosure came in response to a question from MNA Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam, who had inquired about recent civil defense initiatives in the environment of tense regional security environment.
Aviation losses
Meanwhile, in a sharp exchange, the MNA PPP, Sharmila Faruqui, drew attention to financial damage suffered due to an irresponsible declaration of 2020 by a federal minister concerning the skills titles, saying that this led to losses that amounted to 40 billion rupees.
“How will the managers identified without an investigation?” She asked.
Aviation parliamentary secretary, Zeb Jafar, replied by saying that operations were now on the road to the recovery.
“Two flights are currently working for Paris. Since March, PIA has started to generate profits. The concerns raised by the British authorities have been treated, and several international routes have been restored,” she added.
She said PIA has been working for March 2024.
Jaffar said PIA has now resumed flights to the European Union, including two destinations in Europe, like Paris. She also mentioned that the government had engaged in dialogue with the EU aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which paved the way to restart theft to Paris. Interviews with the British aviation authorities are also underway.
In addition, discussions are underway with Turkish Airlines, who should benefit Pakistani travelers. The government is actively working to extend the PIA network to profitable routes, notably the Middle East and North Africa.
The efforts to make the national airline more profitable continue and their impact will become more visible in the coming months, she added.
