Army deployed in all four provinces finally to support the civil administration in fight against the deadly coronavirus.
As per details, all four provinces went on partial lockdown after deployed to support civil administration to fight COVID 19.
Sindh had already announced a complete lockdown a day earlier. On Monday, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan as well as Gilgilt-Baltistan and AJK followed suit.
On Monday evening, chief military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar appeared on national television to virtually confirm the countrywide lockdown.
He said the troops being deployed in aid of the civil administration as the interior ministry requisitioned the army under Article 245 of the Constitution.
Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) made it clear that there was no option left but to go for the lockdown in a bid to control the spread of the virus.
“It is time to take difficult decisions at individual, family, community and societal levels,” Gen Babar said in a prepared statement. He said corps commanders held a special conference on Sunday evening through video link to discuss the plan of action to help civil administration in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.
He said Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, despite army’s deployment both along the western and eastern borders, decided to spare troops and medical resources to fight the pandemic.
As per federal and provincial government measures hospitals, medical stores, grocery shops and food-making factories allowed to remain open, the DG ISPR said.
“All schools will remain closed and gatherings will remain banned,” he added.
Other steps include closure of shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, wedding halls, while unnecessary movement of people will not be allowed.
Intercity transport will only be allowed for supply of food and other essential items, while public transport in cities will remain shut. All international flights would also remain suspended till April 4.
Vegetable markets and petrol stations would open on specific days to be determined by the respective provinces.
