Daily Times

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Wednesday said the planned measures to contain coronavirus pandemic if implemented timely, will contribute to safety and well being of every Pakistani and society at large.

Addressing a special briefing at National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) here, the COAS said all necessary measures to ensure public safety are being taken, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said. “We cannot afford to leave any segment of society at the mercy of this pandemic. Troops on ground must reach out to citizens in every nook and corner of Pakistan not only to protect them against this pandemic but also for bringing comfort in this hour of distress,” he said.

“Only through a coherent national effort, we can address all vulnerabilities before they turn into threats,” the army chief said. “We must rise … and rise together irrespective of caste, colour, creed and religion, fighting as one nation. The task at hand is daunting, but we have overcome difficult situations before. This time the challenge is entirely different. Armed forces will stand shoulder to shoulder with nation to guard the border between people and COVID-19,” he added. “Pakistan Army, being part of national effort, will not leave any stone unturned for security and safety of people of Pakistan,” he concluded.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives and Focal Person for COVID-19 Asad Umer, Minister for Interior Brig (r) Ijaz Shah, Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed, Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, SAPM for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, SAPM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, SAPM on National Security Moeed Yousaf, SAPM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Dr Sania Nishtar and senior military officials attended the briefing.

The forum was briefed about the latest situation on containment efforts and enforcement measures against COVID-19 and troops deployment across the country assisting the federal and provincial administrations in aid of civil power. The forum expressed complete satisfaction over the measures taken so far and also dilated upon future course of action.

The NCOC is serving as a nucleus for one-window operation to synergize and articulate national effort against COVID-19, optimise informed decision making and ensure implementation of decisions of National Security Committee (NSC) and National Coordination Committee (NCC).

Meanwhile, Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General Hamood uz Zaman Khan has been designated as chief coordinator NCOC.