Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that, "we can address all vulnerabilities only through a coherent national effort, before they turn into threats."
During a special briefing at the National Command and Operation Centre, the army chief said, "No segment of the society can be left at the mercy of the coronavirus pandemic."
According to the ISPR, 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 federal and provincial administrations in aid of civil power.
The COAS said that all necessary measures to ensure public safety are being taken. We cannot afford to leave any segment of the society at the mercy of this pandemic. Troops on ground must reach out to citizens in every nook and corner of Pakistan not only to protect them against this pandemic but also for bringing comfort in this hour of distress.
The planned measures, if implemented timely will contribute to safety and well being of every Pakistani and society at large, the COAS reiterated. 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 nation to guard the border between people and the COVID-19.
Pakistan Army being part of the national effort will not leave any stone unturned for security and safety of people of Pakistan, the COAS concluded. The forum expressed complete satisfaction over the measures taken thus far, and also dilated upon future course of action.
The NCOC is serving as a nucleus for one-window operation to synergize and articulate national effort against the COVID-19, optimise informed decision making and ensure implementation of decisions of the National Security Committee (NSC) and the National Coordination Committee( NCC), Commander Army Air Defence Command, Lieutenant General Hamooduz Zaman Khan has been designated as chief coordinator NCOC.
The ISPR said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, Interior Minister Brig (retired) Ijaz Shah, Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar, Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi, SAPM on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, SAPM for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, SAPM Health Dr Zafar Mirza, SAPM National Security Moeed Yousaf, SAPM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Sania Nishtar, and other senior military officials attended the briefing.