By Shahid Nadeem
As the country is facing a lockdown due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, one after another extension in opening markets was announced for the people of Pakistan because the government understands the volume of responsibilities if the government asks the people to stay at home. Who will feed them if the people are not earning?
The countrywide lockdown is essential but needs relief work for millions of daily wagers and poor who live hand to mouth in a country like Pakistan where a vast majority lives below the poverty line.
A big challenge is ahead for that we need an organized way and an organization that can help the people systematically.
Recently Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a force called Tiger Force for Coronavirus Relief work though getting immense response from the youth who fancy Khan as an icon but the question arises what is next?
We have philanthropists doing charities all across the country, besides all the efforts we need a vital approach for the gigantic task and this can’t be done without Pakistan Army into the scene.
We have witnessed their role in every disaster. Pakistani nation this time is facing a deferent challenge unlike the 2005 massive earthquake and 2009 devastating floods but Pakistan Army is fully cable to handle such pandemic.
The government and Pakistan Army hand in hand are fighting the situation and we don’t see any such lacking in terms of coordination among the institutions as the government established the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to handle the situation.
Meanwhile, the National Coordination Committee (NCC) would be an implementation arm and will eventually help to articulate the relief mechanism and definitely ease the people’s suffering.
Pakistan Army has already announced a coherent plan and assured that nation that it would help every segment of society.
I covered the 2005 earthquake as a journalist while working with Al Jazeera Television and also covered 2009 and 2010 floods.
I understand that Pakistan Army works day and night and takes all kinds of risks to evacuate even the last person in trouble. Pakistan Rangers and Pakistan Army are already ensuring to break the chain of the virus by manning social distancing in streets and roads.
The Chief of Pakistan Army (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is seen standing with the nation and I am confident that Pakistan shall defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and will come out as a success story as we won the war against terrorism with limited resources and within a limited span of time.
We have a guard between the People and COVID-19 and this Guard is called Pakistan Army.
Disclaimer:
The writer of this article Shahid Nadeem is associated with Al Jazeera Islamabad Pakistan. The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of Dispatch News Desk.
