Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become the first province in Pakistan to launch an integrated 911 emergency helpline, allowing citizens in distress to directly contact first responders.
The service, officially inaugurated by Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Tariq Saeed Marwat, will operate 24/7 and include an SOS module for emergency alerts.
Trials of the Pakhtunkhwa Emergency Helpline (PHEL) 911 began in March this year.
Project Director Rifaqat Khan told participants at the inaugural ceremony that by June 15, the helpline had received 4.7 million calls, though a significant portion were crank or unnecessary calls.
Additional Chief Secretary for Home and Tribal Affairs Ikramullah Khan and National Telecommunication Corporation Chairman Maj-Gen (retd) Ali Farhan attended the ceremony.
The service will initially cover first responders from the police and Rescue 1122, and will assist victims of domestic violence, tourists in distress, and people affected by natural hazards.
Officials said efforts are underway to integrate additional emergency services, with the helpline available to all citizens of KP. Marwat appealed to the public to avoid making crank calls, saying this would allow the service to function effectively for those genuinely in need. “This will save lives,” he said.
Rifaqat Khan reiterated that the round-the-clock service would not only save lives but also help restore public trust in government.
