Kamal Abdul Jamil
The Civil Defence Department is one of Pakistan’s oldest national institutions, possessing legal cover and holding equal importance in both peace and wartime. It is not merely an organization but a philosophy and national movement built on public service, volunteerism, and collective responsibility.
Civil Defence is a global institution operating in many countries through voluntary mechanisms. Its greatest strength lies in its statutory status and volunteer-based structure, strengthened by patriotism and national spirit. Across Pakistan, thousands of trained volunteers under the Civil Defence umbrella stand ready to serve in any emergency situation. They work with motivation, devotion, human compassion, patriotism, and a deep sense of civic responsibility.
The volunteers enrolled with Civil Defence are disciplined, trained, and active. They possess essential training and equipment for first aid, firefighting, rescue, and emergency response.
During wartime, these volunteers serve on the frontline, providing immediate assistance to civilians by rescuing the injured, extinguishing fires, evacuating people from debris, and offering emergency support at accident sites.
The role of Civil Defence is not confined to wartime. Even in times of peace, the institution plays a key role in awareness raising, promoting discipline, law-abiding, mutual cooperation, fire safety, first aid, and emergency preparedness among the public. Such training is vital for any nation’s sustainable development and collective security.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this institution has unfortunately suffered from neglect and underutilization, despite its vast and trained volunteer network that could be effectively mobilized in the larger national interest.
Sadly, an institution capable of playing a fundamental role in national security and the protection of human lives has been ignored. It is often seen as an “inactive” or “secondary” department, a misperception derived from naïve thinking. In truth, Civil Defence remains one of the few organizations that can respond swiftly and effectively to any emergency.
The department maintains a structured system of volunteer management from the provincial to district level, and down to the grassroots. Despite this, many organizations operating at the district level tend to establish parallel setups instead of collaborating with this well-established national institution.
Organizing volunteers independently is not wrong, but it would be far more effective to utilize existing trained human resources, strengthen them, and make the system faster and more responsive. When multiple entities run separate systems for the same national purpose, it leads to division and inefficiency rather than improvement.
Given the growing instability, terrorism, and frequent natural disasters in the country and particularly in our province (KP), the importance of Civil Defence has increased manifold. Climate change has triggered more floods, earthquakes, and landslides, increasing the need for timely and organized responses.
Among the institutions capable of delivering organized and prompt rescue operations shoulder to shoulder with the army and police, Civil Defence stands out as a key player.
While many humanitarian agencies are working in disaster response and volunteer management, they should recognize Civil Defence as the lead government institution and establish formal partnerships with it. Such collaboration would enhance both the speed and impact of relief activities.
To ensure national safety, public welfare, and effective disaster management, it is essential to revitalize, strengthen, and modernize Civil Defence in line with present-day needs. If restored to its rightful status, Civil Defence can once again emerge as Pakistan’s frontline institution of safety, service, and humanity.
Moreover, there is an urgent need to reorganize its command structure and further strengthen its volunteer network which is the true asset of this institution. At the same time, through institutional mechanisms and legislation, all NGOs, private entities, and government departments engaged in emergency response should be required to work in coordination with Civil Defence. Their efforts must focus on enhancing the capacity and sustainability of its volunteer force , the very backbone of this vital national institution.
