“I couldn’t breathe. My chest tightened, and everything turned dark. I thought it was the end for me,” recalls 52-year-old Ali Asghar, now recovering at a Karachi hospital after surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.
Ali collapsed at his workplace during routine tasks, making his colleagues panic. But thanks to a timely call to 1122, a rescue team from Sindh Integrated Emergency & Health Services (SIEHS) reached Nisar Shaheed Park within minutes.
What followed was a 13-minute battle for life. Paramedics refused to give up, performing relentless CPR until Ali’s heartbeat and breathing were restored.
“If it weren’t for the 1122 team, I wouldn’t be here speaking today,” Ali shared, his voice trembling with gratitude.
Rescue worker Ibadullah, who led the revival effort, emphasized the urgency: “Every second counts in cardiac arrest. Panic wastes time — action saves lives.”
The SIEHS-1122 Ambulance Wing operates with 461 state-of-the-art ambulances across 30 districts of Sindh, covering major highways, population hubs, and remote areas — all at no cost to the public. Each ambulance is staffed with trained professionals, equipped with life-saving drugs and modern biomedical tools, ensuring critical response in the golden hour.
But SIEHS doesn’t stop at emergencies on the road. Through TeleTabeeb-1123, people across Pakistan can connect with certified doctors over a simple phone call — whether it’s a sudden health concern, mental health support, or family care advice. Accessible 24/7, this service ensures that medical help is always a call away.
Together, 1122 saves lives on the ground, and 1123 safeguards health at home.
According to SIEHS CEO Brigadier Tarique Quadir Lakhiar (R), Ali’s case is just one of many. “In Karachi alone, our teams are saving over 30 cardiac arrest patients daily,” he noted, highlighting the impact of trained emergency response.
SIEHS has also proven its resilience during major crises — from the COVID-19 pandemic to the 2022 floods, and even the Hazara Express derailment near Shaheed Benazirabad — as a shield of hope in disaster.
Medical experts stress that in emergencies like cardiac arrest, every moment matters. The first step to saving a life is knowing what to do:
Ali Asghar is living proof that what feels like the end can turn into a second chance at life — if we make the call that matters.
Save these numbers today: 1122 for emergencies, 1123 for care.
