RAWALPINDI (Web News )
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar stressed it will do everything in its power to protect people’s lives, as the third wave of the coronavirus intensifies across the country.Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the army has been deployed in 16 affected cities of the country in view of the growing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.
“To help the civil government and assist law enforcement agencies is the primary purpose of the deployment of troops [to battle coronavirus],” said the DG ISPR during a news conference.
The DG ISPR said that the positivity ratio had shot up to over 5% in 91 cities of Pakistan, adding that the healthcare infrastructure was under “immense pressure” as critical care patients were increasing daily.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said if the current coronavirus situation persisted, then oxygen supply will be diverted from other industries to the health sector.
He said the Pakistan Army had brought about “enhanced deployment” of its troops in Islamabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and Muzaffarabad, adding that these cities were reporting a high number of coronavirus cases on a daily basis.
The DG ISPR revealed that 4,300 coronavirus patients were on critical care at the moment. “In some cities, 90% of the ventilators in hospitals are occupied,” he said.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said Pakistan Army had been deployed in the country to help thwart the coronavirus situation, adding that the decision was taken with all stakeholders on board.
“The people’s confidence (in the army) is the Pakistan Army’s asset,” he said, adding that in these pressing times, the army would do everything in its power to safeguard the people’s health in every nook and corner of the country. He urged masses to follow coronavirus safety precautions to ensure their lives and the lives of others remained safe during the pandemic.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan Army would provide support to other institutions as “emergency responders”.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the number of deaths has risen with the spike in coronavirus cases amid third wave of coronavirus. He said that Pakistan Army, as emergency responders, will help civilian bodies to implement the SOPs.
The DG ISPR also provided details of the coronavirus situation in the country and added that the government has asked the armed forces to assist the implementation of coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He said that the number of deaths were increasing on a daily basis amid third wave of coronavirus in Pakistan, adding that there were 90,000 active cases of Covid-19 in Pakistan.
“The Pakistan Army jawans will provide full support to other law enforcement agencies in the country,” he said.
Major General Babar said that the army will assist the civilian institutions as an emergency response force. “Today since 6am, armed forced have been sent to every district to assist the civilian administration.” He said that a team has been deployed at every administrative level. “At the division level the team [of armed forces] will be headed by a brigadier level officer and at the district level by a Lt-Col,” he said.
The DG ISPR added that apex committee meetings will be held weekly to review the Covid-19 positivity rate of the cities.