): The Pakistan Red Crescent Society Monday organized a ceremony “Relief Response, Lessons Learnt and Future Plan,” and to honour and award the invaluable services of the volunteers during the rescue and relief operations after the October 8th earthquake at the Red Crescent National Headquarters. Special Assistant to Prime Minister and National Volunteer Movement Chairman Muhammad Ali Durrani was the chief guest on the occasion. Speaking at the volunteers award distribution ceremony, Muhammad Ali Durrani said that Pakistan Red Crescent Society being the pioneer organization could play a leading role in providing a platform and train the national volunteers and urged the Red Crescent to initiate such kind of activities in future also. He said 100 thousands volunteers can be arranged in five days while 500thousand volunteers in 15 days. “The issue is not about the number rather it is the organization of the volunteer movement and for this PRCS in collaboration with the government can play a catalytic role,” Durrani added. He said we have to turn this challenge into an opportunity to develop volunteerism in the nation. He appreciated role of Pakistan Red Crescent Society for the earthquake affected areas and said Red Crescent emerged as a leading humanitarian of the country. He also thanked the International Committee of Red Cross and International Federation of Red Crescent Societies and other national societies for their generous support for the quake victims. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Red Crescent Society Chairman Jahan Dad Khan suggested the government to financially support the societies like Red Crescent for capacity building so that they can play a better role in case of any mishap happens in future instead of looking for others for help. He said Pakistan Red Crescent society with the support of its Movement partners has been involved in a massive relief operation in the earthquake-affected areas. He said that the geographical spread of the area, harsh winter and difficult terrain pose a special challenge to the relief efforts. He said that though the tragedy was affectively dealt but still there are some weaknesses in the area that need to be further strengthened. Elaborating the lesson learnt by Pakistan Red Crescent Society, Jahan Dad Khan said that there is a dire need of having large base of trained volunteers, community participation, building local capacities, better data management and sharing of information at all level and balance coverage of relief activities by media. He said that Red Crescent Society owes a lot to IFRC, ICRC, different national societies and volunteers for their generous support and invaluable services. PRCS Secretary General Khalid Kibriya in his welcome address highlighted the Red Crescent relief activities and its response in the affected areas while PRCS Director Operations Muhammad Ilyas gave a presentation on the Red Crescent phase. Pakistan Red Crescent Society provincial branches gave detailed presentations on their relief activities and reconstruction plans. The representatives of IFRC and ICRC also gave presentations on their relief activities and future plans. Delegates from different national societies and high dignitaries attended the ceremony. Later, the chief guest gave away prizes and certificates to the volunteers for their commendable services in the earthquake-affected areas. .