ISLAMABAD: The Interior Ministry on Sunday issued a notification allowing Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan (GB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) can – in accordance with their needs – seek military’s help to strictly implement the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
However, it will not be applicable in Sindh, as according to Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the province had not opted to be part of the measure for the time being.
In a video message on Sunday, the minister said that Punjab, KP, Balochistan, GB, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and ICT would avail the services of the military in implementing coronavirus SOPs as per their need.
He said that this was a big decision taken because neighbouring India was reporting 350,000 or more Covid-19 cases on a daily basis.
The minister said the Pakistan Army had always stood with the people when there are floods, earthquakes and other natural calamities in the country, adding keeping in view the hike in Covid-19 cases, it was decided during a meeting of National Coordination Committee (NCC) to seek the military’s help to enforce the coronavirus SOPs.
The notification issued by the ministry said that the deployment of the military was taken in light of a decision taken during the NCC meeting on April 23.
"The federal government, in exercise of the powers conferred under Article 245 of the Constitution [...], is pleased to authorise deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Army, wef 25th April, 2021, on the requisition of the government of Punjab in the province in connection with enforcement of NCC/NCOC guidelines on Covid-19 and matters ancillary thereto subject to laws enforced in Pakistan," said the notification.
It said the requirement of troops will be worked out by the Punjab government in coordination with the army authorities, adding that "the date for de-requisitioning of army troops will be decided subsequently on the basis of mutual consultation of all stakeholders and decision by the NCC/NCOC." Similar notifications were issued for KP, Balochistan, Islamabad, AJK and GB.
Meanwhile, the GB Home Department issued a notification for the deployment of army and Rangers personnel in cities with a Covid-19 positivity rate of more than five per cent. It also banned dining at restaurants and closed all parks in the region.
On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he had asked the military to assist the police and law enforcement agencies in enforcing Covid-19 SOPs, warning that Pakistan may soon be facing a situation similar to India if the current trend continued.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021