Pakistan has begun to mobilize civil volunteers across the country to help authorities cope with any emergency situation, a government official said Thursday.
The mobilization of extra forces comes as the nation fears internal unrest and an influx of Afghan refugees if US-led forces attack neighboring Afghanistan for protecting terror suspect Osama bin Laden.
"The provinces have been directed to mobilize civil defense volunteers to meet any emergency situation. The prevailing situation in the country warrants such measures," a senior interior ministry official told AFP.
"These volunteers would be required to help the civil and police administrations in cases of emergencies.
"We do not have exact figures for volunteers who are already registered with the civil defense authorities at district and provincial levels."
The News daily reported Thursday that authorities in Karachi, in southern Pakistan, have already registered 10,000 volunteers -- ISLAMABAD (AFP)
