Pakistan's diverse geography and climate make it vulnerable to various natural disasters, with floods being a persistent threat, particularly in the flood-prone districts of Punjab. The province's extensive network of rivers, lakes, canals, nullahs, and wells further contributes to a high incidence of drowning emergencies in both urban and rural areas. In response, the Punjab Emergency Service (PES) has proactively developed its capacity for timely and professional responses to drowning incidents and riverine/rain floods.

To address the increasing challenges of water and flood emergencies, the Department has fabricated specialized Water Rescue Vehicles and equipped its teams with standardized water rescue equipment. Personnel have undergone comprehensive training in water rescue techniques in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines, specifically NFPA 1006 and 1670. The primary equipment deployed in these operations includes specially designed water rescue vehicles, sonar systems, outboard motors (OBM), fiber and rubber boats, boat carriers, life jackets, and specialized water rescue tools and gear.

The responsibility for Flood Response was assigned to PES in 2011 and since then, the PSD has responded to flood and drowning emergencies with a high level of effectiveness. The Service has been at the forefront of flood rescue operations, demonstrating its capability during the catastrophic floods of year 2022 & 2023, which stands as the largest in the country's history. Over the past two decades, the Department has successfully evacuated and rescued 474,412 victims and transported 390,410 stranded individuals in the flood hit areas where land routes were cut off, ensuring the safety of both human-lives and valuable livestock during flood emergencies.

In addition to flood rescue operations, the well-equipped water rescue teams have responded to 18.345 drowning incidents, using Scuba Diving, Line Search, boat search and sonar radar. These efforts have resulted in a remarkable success rate, with the recovery of brodies in approximately 80% of the cases, providing much-needed closure to the families of the deceased.

The PES's water rescue operations have consistently demonstrated their critical role in mitigating the impact of floods and drowning emergencies in Punjab. Through continuous capacity building, specialized training, using advance rescue equipment and the deployment of community emergency response teams, the Department has safeguarded thousands of lives and stands prepared to address future challenges in water rescue and flood response.