Remembering Civil Defence

As someone who has lived through three wars with India in 1965, 1971 and then the recent conflict in 2025 I was a little surprised that the role of Civil Defence organization which used to be very prominent in times of war as witnessed especially in 1965 seemed greatly reduced in the other two wars and in the case of 2025 was nowhere to be seen. I wonder if the civil defence organization had any role at all to play in this recent skirmish with India.

The younger generation which did not witness the earlier wars must be totally unaware of the pivotal role of civil defense in times of war. I am saying this because civil defense affords an opportunity to the young to acquaint themselves with handling war like emergency situations that also help them in any other emergency of a large scale like the aftermath of an earthquake or cyclone, which threat is always looming over our beloved city but has evaded us by the grace of God and as per folklore the association of some religious saints with the city.

The best example of civil defense organization and the role of the young in participating in times of emergency can be found during the 1965 war.

In fact the 1965 war will always be remembered not only by our victories in the battle-field but also the discipline of our population young and old in the cities, towns and villages throughout the length and breadth of Pakistan. I remember when it all started.

It was early morning around 4 a.m. when the sirens started wailing. We were all sleeping in the open in the courtyard of our house in PECHS, Karachi. Yes that was the norm in those days. Most families slept in the open and I remember us children going to sleep while watching the clouds go sailing by trying to figure out similarities between their shapes and different animals.

Weather used to be mild and quite pleasant not requiring tons of cooled air through air conditioners. Anyway, during the siren our neighbours shouted that we were being attacked and to go to our shelters and make sure we have switched off all lights. This was the routine the civil defence organization in our neighborhood had been drumming in our heads.

For weeks through different channels like the loud speakers in mosques and mounted on vehicles the whole area population was instructed to put black paper on their windows and select suitable place for safety such as under the stairs or if your house had a basement go there as soon as sirens start.

The sirens were very important as they informed the entire population of the enemy movement. When they wailed in low and high pitch it meant the attack was coming but when they wailed in one loud pitch it meant the danger was over.The civil defense organization had formed local civil defence structures consisting of young men and women from each locality and during an attack were specially alert and ensured that no violations of the SOP for civil defense occurred in any area. The entire population was involved and on their toes at all times.

Nothing on this scale was witnessed this time and people say for good reason. As we have all seen this was a high tech war. No need to put black sheets on your windows. Populations can now be detected easily and do not have to be draped in black to avoid detection. Now targets can be viewed while they are at a considerable distance away and targeted and destroyed at the touch of a button as the Indians learned the hard way. Maybe it is time to reorganize the civil defence organization with different tasks.

Climate change is one topic on which this organization can render valuable services and train young volunteers to prepare their designated localities to the dangers that loom ahead as climate change rapidly advances and uncontrolled weather wreaks havoc as it has already started doing so with endangering flights and provoking massive floods that bring with them untold miseries and destruction attacking the very roots of our economy. If the Civil Defence organization can do half a good job as it did in the war in 1965 we will also diminish the destruction of climate change to some extent.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025