RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that we cannot afford to leave any segment of the society at the mercy of the Coronavirus (COVID) pandemic.
While speaking at a special briefing at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday, the COAS said that all necessary measures to ensure public safety are being taken.
The COAS said that troops on the ground must reach out to citizens in every nook & corner of Pakistan not only to protect them against this pandemic but also for bringing comfort in this hour of distress.
The Army Chief said that only through a coherent national effort we can address all vulnerabilities before they turn into threats. He reiterated that the planned measures if implemented timely will contribute to the safety and wellbeing of every Pakistani and society at large.
“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 the nation to guard the border between people and COVID-19,” General Qamar Javed Bajwa said.
“Pakistan Army being part of the national effort will not leave any stone unturned for security and safety of people of Pakistan,” he concluded.
The briefing was attended by the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister, the Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives & Focal person for National effort for COVID-19 Asad Umer, the Minister for Interior Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Ahmed Shah, the Minister for Economic Affairs Muhammad Hammad Azhar, the Minister for Communications & Postal Services Murad Saeed, the Minister Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, the Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar, and the Minister Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi.
Likewise, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Finance & Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the Special Assistant on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, the Special Assistant on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza, the Special Assistant on National Security Moeed Yousaf, the Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Sania Nishtar, and senior military officials also attended the briefing.
The forum was briefed about the latest situation on containment efforts and enforcement measures against the COVID-19 and troops deployment across the Country assisting the federal & provincial administrations in aid of civil power.
The forum expressed complete satisfaction over the measures taken thus far and also dilated upon the future course of action.
The NCOC is serving as a nucleus for one window operation to synergize and articulate national effort against COVID-19, optimize informed decision making and ensure implementation of decisions of the National Security Committee (NSC) & National Coordination Committee (NCC).
The Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General Hamood Uz Zaman Khan has been designated as the Chief Coordinator NCOC.
