‘Pak Army ready to assist civil administration to contain COVID-19 pandemic’

‘Pak Army ready to assist civil administration to contain COVID-19 pandemic’

Rawalpindi (Agencies): Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan Army is ready to assist civil administration to contain COVID-19 pandemic.

“Pakistan Army, being part of national effort, shall serve and protect the nation as a sacred duty InshAllah,” said Bajwa while chairing a special corps commanders conference convened on single-point agenda with regards to COVID-19.

The Army Chief said Pakistan Army being part of national effort shall serve and protect the nation as a sacred duty.

Corps Commanders participated through video link from respective Corps Headquarters.

According to ISPR, all available troops of Pakistan Army and its medical resources across the country have been tasked to be ready to assist activities in concert with civil administration on short notice.

Earlier, the governments of Balochistan and Punjab on Sunday sought the Pakistan Army's help in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said he was calling in the military to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic during the ongoing emergency situation.

The Army was being summoned under Article 245. "This is a time of emergency; we all need to face the challenge of this pandemic together," Buzdar said.

On the other hand, the Balochistan government has written to the Ministry of Interior to ask for the Army to be deployed in the province to help contain the infection from spreading.