Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Armed Forces will stand shoulder to shoulder with nation to guard the border between people and COVID-19.
Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa attended a special briefing at National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting was attended by the Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister, the Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives & Focal person for National effort for COVID-19 Asad Umer, the Minister for Interior Brigadier (r) Ijaz Ahmed Shah, the Minister for Economic Affairs Muhammad Hammad Azhar, the Minister for Communications & Postal Services Murad Saeed, the Minister Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan, the Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar, and the Minister Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance & Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Moeed Yousaf, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Sania Nishtar, and senior military officials also attended the briefing.
The forum was briefed about latest situation on containment efforts and enforcement measures against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and troops deployment across the Country assisting the federal & provincial administrations in aid of civil power.
Speaking on the occasion, the COAS said that all necessary measures to ensure public safety are being taken, adding that we cannot afford to leave any segment of the society at the mercy of the Coronavirus pandemic.
He said that troops on ground must reach out to citizens in every nook and corner of Pakistan not only to protect them against this pandemic but also for bringing comfort in this hour of distress.
The COAS said that only through a coherent national effort we can address all vulnerabilities before they turn into threats. He reiterated that the planned measures, if implemented timely will contribute to safety and wellbeing of every Pakistani and society at large.
“We must Rise – and rise together irrespective of caste, colour, creed and religion fighting as One Nation. The task at hand is daunting, but we have overcome difficult situations before. This time the challenge is entirely different. Armed Forces will stand shoulder to shoulder with nation to guard the border between people and COVID-19,” Genl Bajwa said.
“Pakistan Army being part of national effort will not leave any stone unturned for security and safety of people of Pakistan,” he added.
The forum expressed complete satisfaction over the measures taken thus far and also dilated upon future course of action. The forum expressed complete satisfaction over the measures taken thus far and also dilated upon future course of action.
The NCOC is serving as a nucleus for one window operation to synergize and articulate national effort against COVID-19, optimise informed decision making and ensure implementation of decisions of National Security Committee (NSC) & National Coordination Committee (NCC)
The Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General Hamood Uz Zaman Khan has been designated as the Chief Coordinator NCOC.
 General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Armed Forces will stand shoulder to shoulder with nation to guard the border between people and COVID-19.){kind=link}