In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), fake emergency calls to Rescue 1122 have become a menace that impedes its effective functioning when real emergencies arise as well as endangers public safety
Hoaxes Harming KP
By Aishma Gul.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), fake emergency calls to Rescue 1122 have become a menace that impedes its effective functioning when real emergencies arise as well as endangers public safety. Of the 7.3 million calls received by the service in 2024, a whopping 4.5 million were fraudulent. Peshawar, Mardan, and Dera Ismail Khan recorded the highest number of these calls, with Peshawar alone accounting for approximately 6.6 million calls—many of which were fake or unnecessary. Smaller districts like Swat, Nowshera, and Kohat have also reported significant volumes of hoax calls. This sharp increase in fake complaints illustrates a worrying lack of civic mindedness, especially when emergency services are under immense pressure due to rising security threats.
Fake calls come in various forms, ranging from obnoxious calls that harass or abuse operators to irrelevant requests for information on unrelated matters such as power outages or price inquiries. There are also fake emergency calls in which responders arrive to a non-existent crisis. The ramifications of these hoaxes are serious. The misallocation of resources to false alarms slows down responses to real emergencies, while congested lines mean that actual calls often go unanswered. This abuse of services can cost lives, most alarmingly. As a spokesman for Rescue 1122 said, “Prank calls don’t just waste time; they cost lives.”
Despite the seriousness of the issue, the legal framework in place to combat fake calls remains ineffective. False calls to emergency lines are a criminal offense under the Telegraph Act and carry penalties of fines and imprisonment. Rescue 1122 also has the authority to blacklist the numbers of prank callers. However, enforcement of these laws is inconsistent, and efforts to identify prank callers through telecom providers have made little progress. Public education campaigns are also lacking in explaining the true risk of abusing emergency services. On top of that, the question of blocking numbers is complicated: What happens if a blocked number later needs to make a legitimate emergency phone call?
Yet, despite these limitations, Rescue 1122 is still working for the citizens of KP with trimphant spirit. Launched in 2004 in Lahore, the service has proved a lifeline for millions throughout Pakistan, with an average response time of only seven minutes. Pakistan in 2024 was declared the INSARAG Chair in the Asia-Pacific region, and it reflects the competence and efficiency of the service. But the sacrifices paid by Rescue 1122 first responders largely go unacknowledged, despite the fact that they — like so many others — work in life-threatening environments.
In order to combat fake calls, a joint approach is needed. Public awareness campaigns can help to inform citizens about the importance of Rescue 1122 and the misuse of emergency services. It may be necessary for advanced technology to be able to detect and block prank callers, while more severe punishment for creating fake calls is necessary to prevent a tack of hoaxes. And last but not least, society needs to acknowledge the sacrifice of the responders, creating a culture of respect for those willing to sacrifice themselves for those under threat.
At a time when KP is confronted with growing security dilemmas, each and every citizen has to own this situation. The abuse of emergency systems is endangering lives and adding pressure to scarce resources. Rescue 1122 needs not only collective ownership but also accountability for the group & collective responsibility towards public safety.
By Aishma Gul.
