Gen Bajwa says army to speed up assistance for civilians
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RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday directed the army to fast-track operations to help out the civil administration as the country struggles to contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief said every Pakistani must follow guidelines given by the government and health departments to make an ongoing national effort a success.
“Every precautionary measure counts. Let’s be a responsible citizen at an individual level first and in turn assist authorities for safety and protection at a collective level,” the statement quoted him as saying. “Nothing can defeat a responsible and determined nation, as displayed by China. Pakistan Army being part of national effort shall serve and protect the nation as a sacred duty,” it added.
The army chief said the country shall succeed by following self-discipline, cooperating, reinforcing each other and thereby synergising various efforts. Protecting oneself was the foundation for the nation’s collective protection against the pandemic, he added.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2020
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Comments (43) Closed
Mar 22, 2020 09:07am
Thank you Gen. Bajawa. Would civilians have free access to hospitals in cantonment enclaves.
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Mar 22, 2020 09:15am
Outstanding, spirit to stand shoulder by shoulder with nation in the time of despair occurred due to COVID-19. Surely, the darkness is for limited period and hopefully following on the instruction of govt and medical experts we will control on pandemic and soon situation will be normal.
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Mar 22, 2020 09:38am
Time to stop building housing schemes and protect the people.
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Mar 22, 2020 09:45am
Is he in Pakistan or London?
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Mar 22, 2020 09:52am
Not the job of military. Military should stick to duty on borders and barracks.
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Mar 22, 2020 09:55am
You are a true leader. I salute you Gen.
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Mar 22, 2020 10:19am
Army could help in isolation centers near Iran border. We wasted time and mismanagement is leading to a huge crisis
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Mar 22, 2020 10:27am
Every thing u import from China then accept corona also. :)
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Mar 22, 2020 10:30am
Why it took such long time to take this call ? Army should have pro-actively assisted Govt.
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Mar 22, 2020 10:33am
all talk and no actions from Pak govt.
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Mar 22, 2020 11:15am
Sir, what are these guidelines?
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Mar 22, 2020 11:17am
You clean up the Sind government's mess. Let them just take the millions of dollars.
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Mar 22, 2020 12:01pm
Too late
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Mar 22, 2020 12:25pm
Will see if army is any more effective than ik
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Mar 22, 2020 02:16pm
According to top Pakistani virologists, Covid-19 has a shorter life, because it is made in China.
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Mar 22, 2020 03:08pm
Pak Army Zindabaad. Fertile land of four seasons and the brave, talented, smart and patriotic 225 million hardworking citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Paeendabaad.
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Mar 22, 2020 04:29pm
Too many veiled HATERS here.
Army is only honest institution .
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Mar 22, 2020 06:19pm
Good idea if army take over the control in this emergency till virus finished as central and provincial gov fail to provide virus free country. All orders should be taken under the command of gen Bajwa and all hospitals should be control by army medical corps .
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Mar 22, 2020 06:21pm
Wellsaid General Sahaaaab
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Mar 22, 2020 07:14pm
What are they? Does anyone know what guidelines sent out by the government? Sindh is in lockdown but PM say NO to lockdown. Army is going to listen to CMs or IK?
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Mar 22, 2020 07:42pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, how many are army personnels in civilian high posts running private enterprise and what is their share of our meager budget.
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Mar 22, 2020 07:59pm
Thanks Bajwa, we will loose job and give more tax for security concern of country.
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Mar 22, 2020 08:15pm
If this institution has done its job on the border and if assistance have been given at the borders, this crisis has not been spread in the whole country... This institution is equally responsible for this crisis !
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Mar 22, 2020 08:22pm
@Ibrahim S, Do you know how many times civilians are treated in the CMH’s when there is a disaster? Do you know it’s the Army that is called during floods and earthquakes? It’s easy to criticize them, so educate yourself, Army just doesn’t protect you during wars.
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Mar 22, 2020 08:32pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you should self isolate yourself without access to social media. That would be a relief to a lot of people!
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Mar 22, 2020 08:39pm
Time to take over please!
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Mar 22, 2020 09:50pm
I wonder how the general earned those medals..
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Mar 22, 2020 10:08pm
Pak army is great and time tested. I would urge General Bajwa to personally deliver a public speech on the current COVID-19 situation in Pakistan. What military is going to do and appeal all Pakistanis to act like a soldier and protect themselves and others from this danger. Pakistan can stop the spread of this virus in 2 weeks by acting wisely and following the advice about isolation and social distance. Pakistan Zindabad.
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Mar 22, 2020 10:13pm
I urge General Bajwa to go live and appeal to all Pakistanis to show the rest of the world how they can be together in this difficult time and practice isolation and social distance for sake of others.
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Mar 22, 2020 11:28pm
To electorate on my point from earlier, have you ever seen politicians roll up their sleeves and help during floods and earthquakes ? Of course not, it’s always the Army soldiers and officers. Remember it, understand it, respect it, and don’t ever forget it.
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Mar 23, 2020 12:17am
No statement on kashmir . If it is federal government then media & establishment then raise government incompetence .
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Mar 23, 2020 01:06am
None of your business Sir, Army's job is to secure the borders, unless asked for by elected govt.
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Mar 23, 2020 04:11am
it shouldn't be for him to decide, the PM should decide if army will help or not.
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Mar 23, 2020 04:12am
The army should be protected for other purposes considering the virus does not differentiate people. The last thing you want is its spreads in army. In India its the Police that is taking care of curfews/lockdown. But the biggest plus is people are abiding orders from Modiji to Curfew/lockdown. If people are disciplined and follow the task of police becomes negligible.
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Mar 23, 2020 04:42am
A good statement ... but it's really stating the obvious ... not sure what was the need to make it unless they've just woken up to the fact that this is an expectation that Pak Fauj will assist the civil admin ...
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Mar 23, 2020 05:38am
Where is the money?
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Mar 23, 2020 05:40am
How much money did we get from president's China visit?
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Mar 23, 2020 05:51am
only talks as usual
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Mar 23, 2020 06:26am
First time useful work ,this is the civilians expect instead of concentrating and obsession on your neighbour.
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Mar 23, 2020 06:28am
@Abdul Qadir, borders are peaceful as long as no provacation
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Mar 23, 2020 06:39am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, nothing fertile in Pakistan,, everything is on loans, with high interest rate. Talented people don't have even better medical facilities… reality is that after 70 years of independence Pakistan is on verge of economic collapse. so stop writing typical sentences in all comments it doesn't suit to Pakistan at all.
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Mar 23, 2020 06:53am
Promising and talking big is the strength of Pakistanis.
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Mar 23, 2020 07:08am
Now Army should take charge to control COVID19 of entire country as it is the only protective institution to which entire nation has faith.
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