LAHORE: The Punjab government has appointed retired Brig Dr Arshad Zia as acting director general of the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122).

He replaced Dr Rizwan Naseer who has been appointed as Pakistan Red Crescent Society secretary general, a press release said.

Dr Arshad called a meeting of rescue officers at Rescue 1122 Headquarters on Monday and announced long-awaited service rules for the employees. He also announced establishing Urban Search and Rescue Teams in divisions.

Dr Arshad Zia did his MBBS from the Quaid-iAzam Medical College, Bahawalpur, in 1974 and joined Pakistan Army`s Medical Corps as captain doctor in 1981.

During his career in armed forces, he had served for three years as captain doctor in Saudi Arabia in the Emergency Department of Military Hospital Sharoora and was rewarded with the Medal of Excellent Performance.

After retirement from Pakistan Army in 2011, he joined the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) as a Director (admin) in October, 2011.