ISLAMABAD: The Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Babar Iftikhar ensured that the army will do everything in its power to protect people’s lives, as the third wave of Covid-19 intensifies across the country.

During a press conference, he said it is the primary function of the deployed army to help the civil government and assist law enforcement agencies.

The DG ISPR said the positivity ratio had shot up to over 5 percent in 91 cities of Pakistan, adding that the healthcare infrastructure was under ‘immense pressure’ as critical care patients were increasing daily.

Maj-Gen Babar Iftikhar said if the current Covid-19 situation persisted, 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 Covid-19 patients were in critical care at the moment.

"In some cities, 90 percent of the ventilators in hospitals are occupied," he said.

Maj-Gen 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 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.’

The Pakistan Army was mobilized to enforce Covid-19 safety protocols in the federal capital and Peshawar on Saturday after Prime Minister Imran Khan sought its help in curbing the spread of the virus in the country.

Officials of the Islamabad administration had visited various areas in the city, on Friday, with army personnel in tow to enforce the implementation of coronavirus protocols.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021