COVID-19 third wave is precarious, says DG ISPR

Army Spokesperson during press conference added that the whole world and especially, Southasian region is under the adverse effects of the pandemic.

Babar Iftikhar further added that the pressure on Pakistan’s health department is continuously mounting as the country is experiencing an increasing number of deaths due to the rapid spread of the virus.

“75 per cent of the total oxygen produced in the country is dedicated for the health department, however, in the current situation the oxygen produced for the industrial sector is likely to be halted and has to be specified for the health department”, he added.

“There are around 90,000 active Covid cases in Pakistan, while the positivity ratio of these cases is higher than five% in 51 cities while the ventilator occupancy has reached 90% in some of the cities. So far 17,187 people succumbed to Covid-19,” he added.

“Pak army, utilizing all of their skills and resources, will take steps in all parts of the country to ensure the health of the citizens”, ISPR added.

The army representative further told the media that the troops have been called under Article 245 of the Constitution to assist civil administration and law enforcement agencies to prevent the spread of the deadly pandemic.

“To help the civil government and assist law enforcement agencies are the primary purposes of deployment of troops [to battle coronavirus],” thought the DG ISPR.

He told the media that, “A brigadier level officer will head the army troops at divisional level, while an officer with the rank of Lt Colonel will serve at the district level.”

DG ISPR clarified that the army has decided to not claim any allowance for any kind of internal security allowance for its services and the primary aim of the Pakistan army is to ensure the health of its citizens.