Pakistan Red Crescent Society was founded on December 20th, 1947 by an order called ‘The Pakistan Red Cross Order’ issued by Quaid-e- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Governor General of Pakistan and Founder President of the Society. The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) formally recognized it on July 21st 1948. Later it was admitted as a member of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Now called International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies-IFRC) on August 18th, 1948. Pakistan Red Cross Society was renamed as Pakistan Red Crescent Society in 1974. 

The President of Pakistan, as per the Constitution of PRCS, is also the President of PRCS. A Managing Body, under the Chairman, nominated by the President, runs the affairs of the Society. The PRCS is represented throughout the country. The National headquarter is situated in Islamabad and coordinates the activities of four provincial branches in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP as well as a state branch in AJK and a federal capital branch in Islamabad. Moreover, it has a network of 77 district branches in the country.

Pakistan in addition to natural calamities is also prone to man-induced disasters. Pakistan remains a home to a very large refugee population from Afghanistan and there is significant threat from conflict, violence and instability both inside the territory and across the borders. Its Disaster Management programmes are focused towards dealing with natural calamities and man-induced disasters. Plan to launch Emergency Ambulance Service in all major cities of the country facilitated with First-Aid and Blood services, extending of PRCS structure in Federally Administered Tribal Areas & Northern Areas and identifying and prioritizing disaster prone areas for building organization and response capacities with support of local communities are the measures in that direction.

In case of a disaster/ terrorist act a timely response by a well organized and equipped ambulance service is critical in saving lives of injured people. To fulfill its mandated responsibility the PRCS, National Headquarters (NHQ) has organized an Emergency Ambulance Service comprising of ten ambulances for the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The same model would be replicated for all Provincial Headquarters.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) blood transfusion services are organized through four blood centres, one at the NHQ in Islamabad and one each in three provinces (Sindh, Punjab & NWFP). The aim of PRCS Blood Transfusion Service is to ensure provision of Safe Quality Blood, collected from 100% Voluntary Un-paid blood donors for the treatment of the critically injured in disasters and poor patients on daily basis by implementing a donor education / recruitment / recall and retention programme. At present, PRCS collects over 7,000 units of blood annually, and it is planned to further expand this service.

Hundreds of thousands of people particularly women and children, are provided free preventive and curative health care in over 160 medical facilities run by the Society, ranging from hospitals to maternity and child welfare centre and dispensaries. PRCS branches offer a variety of programmes which include mother & child health care, First-Aid training, vocational training centers, awareness/prevention against HIV/ AIDS, Hepatitis B& C, immunization campaigns, b1ood donor centers and paraplegic centre for the disabled and handicapped. In addition, drug awareness, family planning and income generation programmes are also run by some of the branches.

PRCS Information/Dissemination department looks after all the promotional, image building and advocacy campaigns related to PRCS work. Moreover, it is involved in the dissemination of Humanitarian Values and Law & Fundamental Principles programmes at all levels. However, PRCS most significantly endeavours to strengthen the humanitarian and social values by promoting ideals of tolerance, non-violence, sympathy, love and respect for others in the society.

PRCS’s Tracing Service operates around the world through the Movement network, tirelessly seeking to re-establish contacts between separated family members and re-uniting them whenever possible and also maintaining the contact of those detained in jails with their families.

Under the policy direction of the New Management, the Society headed by its Chairman, Mr. Jahan Dad Khan, is vigorously pursuing a well chalked out strategy in the area of Disaster Management. The Society is involved in capacity building to effectively cope up with all aspects of Disaster Management while integrating and incorporating other programmes of: Health & Care, Blood Transfusion Service, First-Aid Training, Dissemination of Humanitarian Values and Organizational Development.
The PRCS is focusing on the following to reinvigorate Society:
• Organizational Restructuring of the National Headquarters followed by Provincial Headquarters to make the Society more responsive to the current requirements.
• Strengthening of existing district branches and extension of presence of PRCS in remaining Districts.
Initiation of an Emergency Ambulance Services to readily respond to disaster situations
• Increasing capacity in recruitment, collection and distribution of Blood Transfusion Services.
• Extension of PRCS Structure in the underserved areas of Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and Northern Areas.
• Identification and Prioritization of disaster prone areas and building local capacities from grass root (Union Council) levels upwards.
• Enlarging the trained volunteer base in various areas (First Aid, Disaster Preparedness and Response and Tracing, etc) and their meaningful incorporation in carefully conceived follow-up activities at the District Levels.

Humanity: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all people.

 

Impartiality: It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

 

Neutrality: In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

 

Independence: The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their government and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

 

Voluntary Service: It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

 

Unity: There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

 

Universality: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a world-wide institution , in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other

Islamabad:
National Headquarters,
Sector-H-8
Tel:051-9250404-5 Fax051-9250408
E-mail: hilal@isb.comsats.net.pk
Visit us at: http://www.prcs.org.pk

 

Karachi:
PRCS Sindh Provincial Branch,
Hilal-e- Ahmar House, Main Clifton Road,
Tel:021-5833973, 587598,5836281
Fax: 021-5830376
E-mail: prcsindh@cyber.net.pk

 

Lahore:
PRCS Punjab Provincial Branch,
Red Crescent Building,
2 Shahrah-e-Fatima Jinnah,
Tel: 042-6304702-3
Fax: 042-6314701

 

Peshawar:
PRCS NWFP Provincial Branch,
Dabgari Gardens,
Tel: 091-210836
Fax: 091-210836

 

Quetta:
PRCS Balochistan Provincial Branch,
Near Alamo Chowk, Airport Road,
Tel: 081-826032
Fax: 081-826032

 

Muzzafarabad:
PRCS AJK State Branch
B.93 Upper Chattar Housing Scheme,
Muzaffarabad (AK)
Tel/Fax: 058810-42415