COAS Gen Bajwa urges social distancing & joint efforts to defeat corona
Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has instructed Pakistan Army during the week to accelerate efforts to support the civil administration in its fight against coronavirus, as he urged the people to practice social distancing in a bid to flatten the curve.
Inter-Services Public Relations says the army is “Once again in the forefront of fighting a national challenge, with army institutions and doctors fully assisting the civil administration and utilising all resources at their disposal to effectively combat coronavirus outbreak”.
The Army Chief stressed that protective step by every individual is important to meet this challenge. He said: “We have to become a responsible citizen so that the collective efforts at the government and institutions level are made successful.”
He said responsibility rests with every Pakistani to fully comply with the instructions of the government and the Health Ministry regarding coronavirus. This, he said, will lead to the success of national efforts.
Following a meeting of the National Security Committee, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had instructed all formations of the army to reach out to the civil administration, even at district and tehsil levels, in their respective domains to control the crisis.
While scientists under the supervision of the army are busy researching and manufacturing personal protection equipment, such as facemasks and hand sanitisers, a ‘medical plan of action’ has been compiled under the supervision of the surgeon general of Pakistan Army to support the government efforts to fight the disease.
The armed forces are helping out screening of passengers at all operational airports within the country, besides screening, scanning, and shifting of the suspect cases at all the entry points of the country. Besides, all the medical facilities of the armed forces are being utilized for assistance and load management of coronavirus patients at the moment.
Pakistan Army has helped establish a 10,000-bed field hospital at Karachi’s Expo Centre. A special quarantine centre has also been established by the Pakistan Army to facilitate patients. The hospital is meant to isolate and treat confirmed patients of the coronavirus in a safe and secure environment, away from common people and other patients in the city.
The Medical Corps of Pakistan Army has come forward to help in the establishment of the field hospital on the request of the Sindh government. Moreover, the army and the Rangers are assisting in operating health facilities in Sukkur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan.
Japan keen to invite more Pakistani skilled, semi-skilled workers
Shindo Yusuke, Deputy Chief of Mission/Minister of the Embassy of Japan has said during the week that Japan was keen to invite more and more Pakistani skilled and semi-skilled workers/professionals with a view to promoting and strengthening bilateral bonds and overcoming the ageing Japanese population.
Shindo further said Japanese government greatly values its relations with Pakistan adding Japanese markets offered a lot of opportunities to Pakistani workforce.
He talked about three categories in which workforce from Pakistani were invited. These categories included technical intern training; specified skilled worker and profession required higher training. The Japanese envoy unfurled these details during a media talk.
This would thus promote international cooperation. He added, Japan and Pakistan signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on this program in February 2019.
He said applicants should be at least 18 years old with good health conditions adding Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training of the Government of Pakistan nominated “National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC)” and “National University of Technology (NUTECH)” to choose participants for this category.
He said third category has a variety of fields. This status of residence is permitted for foreigners who have higher expertise, technique such as academic background or career history with a contract with public/private entity in Japan. IT software engineers are included in this status of residence. This doesn’t have any restriction on the period of stay in Japan which is required for the “Technical Intern Training” and the “Specified Skilled Worker”.
Retired employees to get pension at their doorstep: M. Saeed
Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed during the week announced that pensions of 1.3 million retired government employees will be delivered to them at their doorstep amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Saeed said that the decision was taken after Prime Minister Imran Khan issued special directives to minimise unnecessary public gatherings around the country.
He said that Pakistan Post will deliver pensions to retired government employees at their doorsteps to ensure that the elderly stay at home and remain safe amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
He also informed that Pakistan Post has finalised all arrangements to deliver pension to 1.3 million retired government employees at their doorsteps.