Army deployed to enforce COVID-19 SOPS
PESHAWAR: Pakistan Army’s troops patrolled Peshawar roads along with police and district officials to ensure enforcement of the coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPS).
The officials sealed over 100 shops and detained more than 300 persons including shopkeepers on violation of the SOPS.
The officials conducted raids in Saddar, University Road, Hayatabad, Kohat Road and Charsadda Road in Peshawar over breach of the COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Three bakeries, and scores of ice-cream and juice shops were sealed over the SOPS violation.
Police registered cases against 20 persons in Gujranwala over violation, while 22 shops were sealed and challans issued to 14 vehicles.
In Pakpatan, 52 shops and 20 eateries were sealed over violation of the precautionary measures.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid announced that deployment of Pakistan Army to implement COVID SOPS has been approved for three provinces except Sindh.
The interior minister made the announcement in a video ater he chaired a meeting on the COVID-19 situation and reviewed the deployment of armed forces in aid to civil administration.
Rashid said that a notification for military deployment has been issued for three provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir ater the prime minister announced the decision.
“A decision on military deployment in Sindh is yet to be taken,” he added.
Pakistan reported 118 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, raising the death tally to 795,627 nationwide as the country continues to grapple with the third wave of the infection.
As per official data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 55,128 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours from which 5,611 tests returned positive.
The number of active cases now stands at 795,627 with nationwide recoveries rising to 689,812.
The coronavirus situation has deteriorated further in Pakistan, leading to stringent restrictions from the NCOC to curb the spread of the virus.
The NCOC is considering the enforcement of a lockdown in cities reporting high positivity ratios, according to a statement released a day earlier.
The statement follows an NCOC session held on Saturday, with Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in the chair.