'Million' youth sign up for Imran's tiger force

Almost 35% of TRCF are women

ATTOCK: Around a million youngsters have signed up to become a part of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) Relief Tiger Force (CRTF) which showed that young people had confidence in the government.

This was stated by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Usman Dar on Monday while launching the CRTF at Mehria Marquee in Attock.

He said that the force is playing an active role in the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the spread of coronavirus and keep the people safe from the contagion.

However, most of the people at the orientation session of the CRTF were seen flouting the SOPs as they tried to get closer to the stage. Earlier, local members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), particularly supporters of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, dressed in TRCF uniforms, had stopped the cars of Dar and Aslam to take selfies with them.

Later, while speaking to TRCF members, Dar said the volunteers were also helping in the disbursement of assistance amongst the needy and deserving people under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

Dar said that the force will assist the local administration in organising Eidul Fitr congregations under the SOPs.

He said the government is chalking out a comprehensive plan to create job opportunities, especially for skilled workers, and the volunteers had been tasked to collect the data of unemployed youth at the union council level.

PM’s Adviser Aslam said TRCF volunteers, under Dar’s leadership, were serving the nation in a time of hardship.

He said the youth were the frontline fighters in the nation’s struggle against the virus. Almost 35 per cent of TRCF were women which were a good omen.

He lauded Dar for floating the idea of tiger force as the youth comprise 65 per cent of the country's population.

Earlier, Attock DC Ali Anan Qamar said some 8,213 TRCF volunteers, including 400 women, had been registered in the district.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2020.