COAS directs commanders to step up relief efforts

We will emerge stronger from this challenge with help of vibrant youth and resilient people, says army chief

RAWALPINDI:
Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has directed all military commanders to step up relief operations across the country to ease difficulties of people hit by coronavirus pandemic, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The chief of army staff (COAS) was chairing a 231st Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi which was attended by top-commanders through video link from their respective headquarters, a statement issued by the military's media wing said on Tuesday.



"Appreciating the troops in the field for efforts so far, Gen Qamar directed all commanders to extend maximum assistance in moving critical resources and reaching out to mitigate suffering of people in far flung areas including G-B, AJK, interior Sindh and Balochistan," the communique added.

According to ISPR, the forum reviewed geo-strategic, regional and national security environment with particular emphasis on latest situation arising from the contagion.

Currently, the nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients soared past 4,050 with 2,004 cases in Punjab, 986 in Sindh, 500 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 202 in Balochistan, 211 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 83 in Islamabad, and 18 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.


The highly-contagious disease has claimed 54 lives while at least 429 coronavirus patients have recovered.

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"Forum under took comprehensive review of deployment of Pakistan Army troops assisting civil administration in aid of civil power across the country," the statement added.

The military's top brass were apprised on functioning of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) "established to synergise and articulate national effort for containment of COVID-19".

The forum also paid tribute to those on frontline including doctors, paramedics, health care workers and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for braving the pandemic under challenging environment, the ISPR said.

The corp commanders also paid tribute to the "Kashmiris people who are fighting the pandemic under Indian atrocities and struggling for their just cause of self determination".

"Every citizen counts as we strive to scale this calamity. Being a nation with vibrant youth and resilient people ready to share and sacrifice, we will emerge stronger from this challenge, InshaAllah," the ISPR quoted Gen Qamar as saying.

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