Eight rescue stations planned along KP highways, motorways.

Byline: Manzoor Ali

PESHAWAR -- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to set up eight satellite rescue stations along major highways and motorways in the province to save lives and reduce disabilities in case of traffic accidents.

Officials told Dawn the United States Agency for International Development would provide Rs139.2 million for putting those facilities.

Currently, proper emergency rescue services aren't available along highways in the province and in cases of accidents, emergency rescuers are sent in from nearby districts but they often take time to reach there and thus, leading to loss of lives.

Officials say initiative to help prevent deaths, disabilities in case of traffic accidents

The officials said the relief, rehabilitation and settlement (RRS) department would establish satellite rescue stations.

RRS secretary Mohammad Abid Majeed told Dawn that a large number of accidents took place on highways and motorways due to driving mistakes and poor vehicle condition.

He said in most cases, public transport vehicles were involved in traffic accidents.

Mr Majeed said there was no dedicated ambulatory service either to take care of the injured or to transport them to hospitals promptly along major highways.

He said the decision to set up satellite rescue stations had been made in light of that issue. The secretary said the initiative put in place necessary mechanisms to tackle cases of road accidents along major highways of the province.

He said large ambulances, which were able to cater to six to eight people, would be deployed at proposed stations, while staff trained in accident trauma and necessary equipment would also be there.

Mr Majeed said his department had initially proposed eight such facilities in the province with the USAID funding their establishment and the government providing the required staff to them.

He said other major highways would also get such stations in future as the chief minister had ordered the provision of such services across the province from Kohistan to Dera Ismail Khan.

The secretary...