Army takes control of NCOC to contain spread of Covid-19

Pakistan army is taking the lead role in response to the Covid-19 pandemic by taking control of the top implementation body - National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) - accompanied by deployment of troops across the country in aid of civil power under article 245.
Headed by Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General Hamood-uz-Zaman Khan, NCOC is serving as a nucleus for one window operation to synergise and articulate national effort against Covid-19, optimise informed decision making and ensure implementation of decisions of National Security Committee (NSC) and National Coordination Committee (NCC).
About the government decision to open the construction industry, an official of the defence forces told Business Recorder that the decision was taken by National Coordination Committee (NCC) which is the decision-making body, having representation of civil and military institutions.
He said that the decision to open the construction industry was taken because of the minimum risk it entails of spreading the virus where unlike factories, the labourers and workers work at quite a distance from eachother.
Additionally, he pointed out that the plan is to reopen more sectors gradually and to limit the lockdown to those areas that are most vulnerable defined as entailing maximum risk of spreading the virus.
An ISPR spokesman said that army troops are assisting federal and provincial administrations in ensuring enforcement measures for containment of Covid-19 with focus on public safety.
All points of entries (POE) being manned and monitored, establishment of joint check posts and joint patrolling with other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are being carried out effectively.
He said that contact tracking, tracing to identify and isolate suspected individuals is being done to ensure containment of Covid-19 spread. He further said that troops are assisting in management of quarantine facilities, as a total of 182 quarantine facilities have been established across the country.
Giving details of troops' deployment across the country, the spokesman said that in Punjab, troops have been deployed in 34 districts where joint check posts have been established on entry and exit points, and patrolling is ongoing with police for enforcement to measures taken by the provincial government.
He said that the troops are assisting civil administration in managing DG Khan, Multan, Faisalabad and Lahore Expo Centre quarantine/isolation facilities. Furthermore, disinfection campaign is underway of various public places including airport, train platforms and other such public places, he added.
In Sindh, he said that troops have been deployed in 29 districts along with Pakistan Rangers Sindh and police personnel at all entry and exit points. He said that army troops, Pakistan Rangers and police are patrolling to enforce measures taken for containment of Covid-19 by the provincial government. While troops are also assisting civil administration in the management of quarantine facilities at Sukkur and Karachi Expo Centre.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said that troops are deployed in 26 districts while four border terminals and inter provincial boundary are being manned and managed at Drazinda.
He said that army personnel are assisting civil administration in management of quarantine camps at Drazinda, Gomal University, DI Khan, Post Graduate Paramedic Institutes Peshawar. He said that a quarantine facility for 1500 individuals is being established at Landi Kotal and Jamrud.
He said that army troops and LEAs are ensuring isolation of 10 residential areas of confirmed cases at Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda and Bunner. Over 4000 suspected cases tracked and traced, are being isolated to prevent the spread of the virus.
In Balochistan, the ISPR spokesman said that army personnel were deployed in nine districts in far flung areas including Awaran, Dukki, Chaghi, Lasbela, Kalat, Naushki, Khuzdar, Sibbi and Gwadar.
Chaman Border is closed for all types of movement. Army troops, doctors and paramedics are assisting civil administration in managing Taftan quarantine facility, he added.
He said that an additional container based quarantine facility for 600 individuals is being established at Taftan while tent based quarantine facility with 805 tents with allied facilities as per best practices is being established at Chaman.
He said that army field medical battalion with specialist doctors and paramedics have already been deployed at Chaman for management of quarantine facility, adding that container based quarantine facility for 300 individuals is also being established at village Killi Faizu, Chaman.
In AJK, the spokesman said that army troops assisting civil administration for enforcement measures in various parts of AJK include Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur, Barnala, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Kel and Rawalakot. While in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), he said that army troops were deployed in all 10 districts and far flung areas to assist civil administration for enforcement measures, screening and testing measures taken by GB government.
He said that Pakistan army helicopters flew special sorties through Khunjrab pass for transporting and distribution of medical equipment received from China including 5 ventilators, 2000 testing kits, 2000 medical suits, 2000 N95 masks and 0.2 million facemasks on 27th March.
In Islamabad Capital Territory, he said that joint check posts on entry and exit points have been established and the forces are conducting joint patrolling with police and isolation of suspected localities is being carried out.