LAHORE    -   The Emergency Services Academy Wednesday started international course on disaster response, in collaboration with the Asian Disaster Prepared­ness Centre. A four-day Community Action for Di­saster Response (CADRE) course to enhance pro­fessional skills of rescue officers and instructors started at the Manager Training Centre, Emer­gency Services Academy (ESA) here. This course is being organised in collaboration with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Pakistan and United States Agency for International De­velopment (USAID). A total of 24 officers, and in­structors of Rescue 1122 from Punjab would be trained on CADRE course. These trained officers and instructors would train community and es­tablish Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in Punjab at union council level. 

Speaking at opening session, DG Punjab Emer­gency Service Department (PESD) Dr Rizwan Naseer said that it was an opportunity provided to improve your professional skills to establish CERTs at the UC level and train them on interna­tional course. He said that the course participants would get the utmost benefit from this workshop to enhance their professional skills and knowl­edge. Dr Rizwan Naseer expressed the vibrant role of the community in order to improve emergency response and prevent emergencies at community level. He reiterated that through the active role and participation of the local communities and particularly of the youth, the dream for establish­ment of safer Pakistan can come true. He directed to ensure uniform standard of CADRE training while imparting lifesaving skills to the CERTs. The DG also appreciated the CADRE instructors for conducting this course and thanked the ADPC and USAID for capacity building of Emergency Staff.