After failure of repeated attempts to improve and modernize the existing municipal fire brigades, Rescue 1122 also accepted challenge of establishing first modern Fire Service in Pakistan. The establishment of this modern fire service would not have been possible without the support from Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Serice of Scotland, United Kingdom which trained the first batch of officers. Subsequently, as a result of the twinning agreement between Lahore with Glasgow Cities, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration was also signed between Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Service and Punjab Emergency Service.

The first trained modern Fire Service was established on pilot basis from Lahore in June, 2007, which was subsequently replicated in all Districts of Punjab. In short span of time, the Rescue 1122 Fire Services working in all Districts of Punjab have responded to thousands of fire calls and saved lives & losses worth billions of rupees by providing timely response and professional fire fighting on modern lines.

However the increasing number of fire incidents due poor enforcement of fire safety codes given in the building byelaws is increasingly putting the lives and properties of citizens and Rescuers at risk. Furthermore, the absence of proper emergency stairs, fire hydrants and encroachments around the buildings makes the fire fighting operations especially in walled city and high rise building very difficult and dangerous. Therefore the bare minimum fire safety codes have been notified and efforts are underway for establishment of an effective Building Control Authority ensure safe construction and expansion of cities.