ISLAMABAD: The media wing of the Pakistan army said on Monday there was “enhanced deployment” of its troops in 16 Pakistani cities where the coronavirus positivity ratio was increasing.
Pakistan has recorded 4,825 new infections in the last 24 hours, with 70 deaths, as it grapples with a deadly third wave of the pandemic.
On Sunday, the federal ministry of interior issued a notification for the deployment of the armed forces to enforce coronavirus-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) in Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Islamabad Capital Territory.
“Enhance deployment of Pakistan Army has been done in these 16 cities,” the military media wing said, naming Islamabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and Muzaffarabad.
“In view of the deteriorating situation of the epidemic, in accordance with the orders of the federal government for the protection of the people and the protection of public health, the Pakistan Army has been called upon to assist the civil institutions across the country under Article 245,” the army said. “Civil society is primarily responsible for enforcing safety measures ... Pakistan Army will provide full support to other law enforcement agencies as an emergency responder.”
The military said troops had reached every district level across the country from 6am today, Monday to assist civil institutions.
“Under Article 245, a team has been deployed at the level of each administrative division across the country, which will be headed by officers of the brigadier rank,” the army said. “At each district level, army troops, led by a lieutenant colonel, will assist the civil administration.”
