Key points

  • Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz, placed a test call to the police emergency number 15.
  • The purpose was to assess how swiftly the helpline can locate a caller and mobilise assistance.
  • Officials said the exercise will highlight any shortcomings and help tighten response times province‑wide.
  • The drill underscores the provincial government’s priority on improving public‑safety infrastructure for everyday citizens.

Punjab’s chief executive, Maryam Nawaz, dialed the police emergency helpline 15 on Tuesday as a practical audit of the service’s performance. During the simulated emergency, she asked the operator to confirm her exact location and to outline the steps that would be taken to dispatch help. The call was not a real distress situation but a controlled test designed to gauge the speed and accuracy of the response chain from the moment a citizen dials the number.

Law‑enforcement officials who monitored the exercise said the information gathered will be used to fine‑tune protocols, train call‑centre staff and address any bottlenecks that could delay assistance in genuine crises. By mapping out the call‑handling timeline, the CM’s office hopes to ensure that residents of Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and the rest of the province receive prompt police support when they need it most.

The initiative comes at a time when Pakistan’s emergency services are under scrutiny for delayed arrivals and inconsistent coverage, especially in rural districts. Strengthening the 15 helpline aligns with the provincial government's broader agenda of modernising public safety systems, including the rollout of GPS‑enabled patrol units and a new digital incident‑reporting platform.

Stakeholders, including civil‑society groups and local NGOs, have welcomed the transparent test, noting that regular audits can build public confidence. They also urged the administration to publish the findings and set measurable targets for response‑time reductions, so that the exercise translates into tangible improvements for the everyday commuter, shopkeeper, or student who may one day rely on the 15 number in an emergency.