Troops assisting civil admins in war on Covid-19

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Army troops deployed across the country in aid of civil administration under Article 245 are assisting the federal and provincial administrations in ensuring the enforcement measures for containing COVID-19 with focus on public safety, the ISPR said on Saturday.

“All points of entries (POEs) being manned and monitored, establishment of joint check posts and joint patrolling with other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) being carried out effectively. Contact tracking, tracing to identify and isolate suspected individuals being done to ensure containment of COVID-19 spread,” it said in a statement.

The troops are assisting in managing the quarantine facilities. A total of 182 quarantine facilities have been established across the country.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), the troops are assisting the civil administration in enforcing measures in various parts including Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur, Barnala, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Kel and Rawalakot, in Balochistan, the troops have been deployed in nine districts in far-flung areas including Awaran, Dukki, Chaghi, Lasbela, Kalat, Naushki, Khuzdar, Sibbi and Gwadar.

Chaman Border has been closed for all types of vehicles while troops, doctors and paramedics are assisting the civil administration in managing Taftan quarantine facility.

An additional container based quarantine facility for 600 individuals is being established at Taftan. Tent-based quarantine facility with 805 tents with allied facilities as per best practices is being established at Chaman.

The army field medical battalion with specialist doctors and paramedics have been deployed at Chaman for management of quarantine facility, while a container based quarantine facility for 300 individuals is being established in Killi Faizu village in Chaman.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, troops have been deployed in all 10 districts & far flung areas to assist the civil administration in enforcing measures and screening and testing.

Helicopters flew special sorties through the Khunjerab Pass for transportation and distribution of medical equipment received from China including five ventilators, 2,000 testing kits, 2,000 medical suits, 2,000 N95 masks and 0.2 million face masks on 27th March.

In Islamabad, joint check posts have been set up at entry/exit points and joint patrolling with police and isolation of suspected localities is being carried out.

In KP, troops have been deployed in 26 districts. Four border terminals and inter-provincial boundary is being manned and managed at Drazinda.

Troops are assisting the civil administration in managing quarantine camps at Drazinda, Gomal University, DI Khan, and Postgraduate Paramedic Institutes Peshawar. A Quarantine facility for 1,500 individuals is being established at Landi Kotal & Jamrud. Troops and LEAs are ensuring isolation of 10 residential areas of confirmed cases in Peshawar, Mardan, and Charsada & Bunner. Over 4,000 suspected cases have been traced and being isolated to contain the spread of COVID-19.

In Punjab, troops have been deployed in 34 districts. Joint check posts have been established at the entry/exit points, and patrolling with police is being conducted for enforcement of the measures taken by the provincial government.

Troops are also assisting the civil administration in managing DG Khan, Multan, Faisalabad and Lahore Expo Centre Quarantine/isolation facilities. A disinfection campaign is underway in various public places including airports, train platforms and other such places.

In Sindh, troops have been deployed in 29 districts of Sindh. The Pakistan Rangers Sindh along with police has been deployed at all entry/exit points.

Troops, Pakistan Rangers and police are patrolling the assigned areas to enforce the safety measures.

Troops are also assisting the civil administration in managing quarantine facilities at Sukkur and Karachi Expo Centre.