It was past ten, late in the January night a few days ago, in sector G-10 Islamabad. Our family was sitting within closed doors with heaters on, trying to fight off the low early-night temperatures and cold breeze, when a low persistent animal growl was heard outside. Ignoring it for a while brought no respite as the desperate shrieks continued, prompting us to investigate.
A bizarre scene was witnessed at the main gate of the house. Barely a month-old little puppy, one of the two wandering siblings and apparently abandoned by their mother, had sneaked under our metal gate into the driveway. As it tried to exit to go back to its brother, it followed a wrong path. Instead of going under the gate, the way it came in, it put its head into one of the small decorative rings above the lower horizontal bar. It must have then pushed a bit as its broader back of the head followed its jaw through the ring. With its neck now in the ring, its broader shoulders couldn't go through the small hole. It tried to withdraw but its back of the head couldn't slip through the ring. Resultantly, it got stuck with its head outside the gate, body inside and the neck in the metal ring.
Our whole family gathered around and tried to unstuck the little thing; from pulling out its shoulders to pushing in the head to twisting the body round but to no avail. We feared that our efforts might result in it getting chocked. The only viable solution to saving its life was to cut the thick iron ring, which was not possible with manual files that we had. As the markets had closed for the day, finding an ironsmith was out of question. By this time, some of our neighbours had also gathered to offer help and ideas.
We politely narrated the issue to the 1122 staff, but we all thought it unlikely they would reach in such a short time—especially for a stray animal
At about 2230, having exhausted self-help methods, we decided to call 1122, the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) centre maintained by Capital Development Authority (CDA). The call was picked up promptly. We politely narrated the issue and enquired if any agency could provide some assistance. The staff on duty was extremely courteous. They noted our house address and informed that a rescue party would be there in fifteen minutes.
Already surprised at the offer of help, we all thought it unlikely that they would reach in such a short time, especially considering that their office is located at the Municipal Fire Brigade across Zero Point, a good ten kilometres away from our house.
To our pleasant amazement however, within 15 minutes, a red rescue truck arrived at the house with a party of seven rescuers. The vehicle was equipped with everything needed for urban emergencies. There was a folding tall ladder on top. The party in charge named Mr. Shahnawaz took hold of situation. As the puppy was undergoing anxiety, he cleared away the onlookers. Having tried manual means, as we had already done, he took out an electric metal cutter from one of the vehicle compartments. Another two of the party spread out the long electric cable, plugged in the electric socket and commenced the cutting process carefully. Within five minutes, to the relief of everyone, the puppy was free and happily scampered off to join its sibling. A life had been saved.
We often criticize everything about our country. There is no denying that there is plenty that is wrong due to disconnected politicians, corrupt religious leaders and inefficient bureaucracy but we never acknowledge that the nation is basically kind hearted and there are institutions that work efficiently. We believe that a sifarash, (a recommendation from a rightly placed authority), is essential to get our jobs done through government offices. Passport! Sifarash. Driving licence! Sifarash. A gas or electricity meter! Sifarash. Foreign office! Sifarash. A ministry or HEC job! Sifarash. A hospital visit! Sifarash. The first thought we Pakistanis have for even a routine task is to find a short cut. In my experience, I have found that all these jobs can be accomplished through routine procedures. They might require, in some cases, one or two extra visits but the work is done. In some cases, a recommendation is helpful but that is as true for US, Australia or EU as for our nation.
In this case, we didn't seek help from any of the many ex CDA high officials residing in our street; some of them good family friends of long standing. We simply called the concerned agency and the response was phenomenally prompt and efficient. One of my immediate neighbours, a naturalized Canadian family, who spend their winters here, were also surprised at this efficiency. The happier ending to the whole episode was that our front door neighbour took custody of both the puppies and had them sent to his farms.
This incident, as indeed many items, made us feel proud to be Pakistani.