Cash-starved firefighters vow to meet any emergency.

Byline: Kashif Abbasi

ISLAMABAD -- Firefighters of the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management (EDM) of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) on Monday celebrated the International Firefighters Day.

The firefighters, who have been facing budget constraints with half of their vehicles grounded due to lack of maintenance, took a round of the city to convey the message to the citizens that 'they are at the service of the citizens round-the-clock with no fear.'

A flag march of the fire and rescue fleet of vehicles together with firefighters, rescuers, fire leaders, instructors, search and rescue specialists was taken out from the EDM.

The participants went round the city and showed their endurance and capability.

Speaking to Dawn, Director Emergency and Disaster Management Zafar Iqbal confirmed that half of the total fleet was out of order because of no-repair and maintenance. He said during the last three years, the fire brigade was not given a budget for repair and maintenance of its vehicles.

'Despite all the challenges, we have been playing our role to provide emergency services to the citizens,' he said and added that the purpose of the flag march was to give a message to people that 'we are at their call 24 hours.'

Flag march taken out in capital on International Day of Firefighters

Sources in the MCI told Dawn that half...