AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, November 29, 2012 (PPI-OT): President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday urged Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to fully equip itself with modern tools and techniques to effectively deal with any emergent situation in the country including natural calamities or man-made disasters.
He called upon the PRCS to focus on further enhancing its capacity and broadening the scope of its humanitarian activities to serve the humanity in case of any disaster at national as well as international level.
The President said this while chairing an extra ordinary general meeting of PRCS held tonight at Bilawal House.
Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the extra ordinary general meeting of PRCS was convened by the President to elect Vice-Chairman of the Society for which the post was lying vacant for quite sometime.
He said that the President during meeting said that people have great expectations and attaches high hopes with PRCS for its humanitarian role in emergency and disaster situations and expressed the hope that the organization would rise to the expectations of the people by catering in a befitting manner to the needs of affectees in case of any emergency.
The President said that the emerging challenges and increasing frequency and severity of disasters in the recent past have amplified the role of PRCS and urged for strengthening the response and recovery of the National Society adding that PRCS should be better prepared and more accountable to the population when disaster strikes.
The President expressed satisfaction over the performance of PRCS in alleviating sufferings of the people during the times of natural calamities and urged for vigorous steps to extend the geographical reach of the society and to enhance its capacities in the areas of disaster management, health and care, youth and volunteerism and image building.
Those who were present during the meeting included among others Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari ,Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Yaqoob Khan ,Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Federal Minister for National Regulations and Services ,Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, Federal Secretary, National Regulations, Maj Gen (Retd) Ch. M. Nawaz, Officiating Chairperson, PRCS and other officials of Red Crescent belonging to federal and provincial PRCS.
Federal Minister for National Regulations and Services Dr. Firdous Ashique Awan gave an overview of PRCS in delivering efficient, transparent and ready help to the victims of natural calamities in different parts of the country. She said that the establishment of Regional Branches in FATA and Gilgit and presence in 89 districts and 43 Disaster Management Cells with stocks of 35,000 families has greatly contributed in the performance and capacity building of the Society.
The meeting unanimously elected Ms. Farzana Naek, Chairperson of the Sindh chapter of PRCS as the Vice-Chairman of the Society.
Ms. Farzana Naek in her remarks thanked the President and the members of the PRCS for reposing confidence on her. She reiterated her commitment to work earnestly and with devotion for the goals PRCS.
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