TAXILA: The Rescue 1122 centre inaugurated in Hassanabdal three months ago has yet to start functioning as its building is still incomplete and it does not have the required staf f or vehicles.

The centre was meant to provide emergency services to inhabitants of Hassanabdal city as well as commuters travelling on the RawalpindiPeshawar GT Road, HassanabdalHaripur Road, Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway and the Hazara Motorway.

The centre was constructed over two kanals of land for which the then Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had provided a Rs10.37 million grant in the fiscal year 2017-18.

It was inaugurated by former MPAfrom Hassanabdal Shahwaiz Khan with a demonstration by Rescue 1122 officials and a display of fire tenders and ambulances.

The next day, the officials who took part in the demonstration went back and the vehicles and building were abandoned. They were eventually parked outside the police stations just a few yards away. Two weel(s later, there was a fire in the main bazaar which caused damage to property worth millions of rupees. Rescue 1122 from Attock and Hazro carried out the rescue operations in the city.

According to sources, the station does not have electricity or water supply due to the paucity of funds and windows and doors are also yet to be installed. There is also no wireless communication system, which is necessary for coordination with rescuevehicles, police, motorway police and the district control room.

Chairman of the local traders` union, Chaudhry Jamshaid Akhter told Dawn that two fires had broken out in the city after the inauguration of the Rescue 1122 centre and that major property loss was suffered in both which could have been avoided had the centre been active.

When asl(ed, Rescue 1122 District In-charge Dr Mian Mohammad Ishfag said the centre will need at least six vehicles and 29 rescue staff in order to be made functional which cannot happen till the ban on appointments is lifted.

He said the centre was inaugurated on the instructions of former MPA Shahwaiz Khan.

Mr Khan was not available for comment.