The Pakistani government has deployed the army in major cities in response to an increase in COVID incidents. ISPR announced on Monday that it had mobilized troops throughout the country. The government had requested assistance in enforcing recommended counter-Covid-19 initiatives.
This involves deployment in 16 cities with a very high positivity rate. Positivity rate is defined as the number of people who test positive for the virus out of all those checked in a day. Islamabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, Charades, Swabi, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, and Muzaffarabad are among the 16 cities.
Moreover, the deployment comes after the interior ministry released a notice on Sunday. The ministry approved the deployment of troops under Article 245 at the provinces\’ request. Prime Minister Imran Khan\’s National Coordination Committee had previously sought the army\’s help in enforcing coronavirus SOPs.
Subsequently, as an emergency responder, DG ISPR Iftikhar said that the army will provide full assistance. In times of difficulty, he said, the Pakistan Army will use all of its resources to curb the virus. The army will take all practicable measures to ensure the health and welfare of the nation.
Furthermore, DG ISPR provided information on the army\’s operation hierarchy during the deployment. He said that any administrative division\’s army units were led by a brigadier-general. An officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel will support the municipal government at the district level.
Third Wave of COVID-19 and its Devastating Impacts on Pakistan
Unfortunately, the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic caught Pakistan off guard. This resulted in a significant rise in COVID cases and deaths. Pakistan recorded 157 deaths in the previous 24 hours on Saturday. This was the largest single-day death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic since it began in February of last year.
The number of COVID-positive cases has risen as well. According to Gen Iftikhar, the global mortality rate is currently 2.12 per cent, while Pakistan\’s death rate has risen to 2.16 per cent. He reported that Pakistan has now crossed the global mortality rate for the first time. The third surge, according to the DG ISPR, is proving to be much riskier and lethal than the first two.
Lastly, as the crisis worsens, about 4,300 coronavirus patients are reportedly admitted to critical care, with 570 of them requiring ventilator treatment. In major cities, ventilation occupancy exceeds 90%. He also said that the health sector consumes more than 75 per cent of the oxygen provided in the region. He added that looking at the situation right now, the government can decide to allocate the oxygen quota of the industrial sector to the health sector to fulfil the patients\’ assistance.
