Question:

In the war against Corona Virus what kind of civil military

relations are be established and why this relation is
important?

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified in December 2019 in
Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. As of 11 May
2020, more than 4.11 million cases have been reported across 187 countries and territories,
resulting in more than 282,000 deaths. More than 1.41 million people have recovered.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of smell and
taste. While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to acute respiratory
distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure, septic shock, and blood clots. The time from
exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days but may range from two to
fourteen days.

 Arrival of COVID-19 in Pakistan:

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached Pakistan on 26 February 2020, when a
student in Karachi tested positive upon returning from Iran. By 18 March, cases had been
registered in all four provinces, the two autonomous territories, and the federal territory of
Islamabad.

As of 9 May 2020, there have been over 27,400 confirmed cases with 7,756 recoveries and 618
deaths in the country. Punjab has recorded the most cases at over 10,400, while Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa has reported the most deaths in the country, a total of 221. The country has been
put under a nation-wide lockdown until 9 May, which was initiated on 1 April and later
extended twice. On 7 May PM Imran Khan announced to ease lockdown phase wise from 9
May, 2020.
According to a report by the federal government, Pakistan could have expected 50,000 cases of
the disease by 25 April. However, the number by then remained under 13,000, less than half of
what was expected.

A Tablighi Jamaat religious congregation which took place in Lahore in early March 2020
became a coronavirus super-spreader, accounting for 27% of cases in the country by late April.
Pakistan started vaccine trials in collaboration with Sinopharm, a Chinese pharmaceutical
company in April 2020.
  Background of Corona Virus:
In late December 2019 a new (novel) coronavirus was identified in China causing severe
respiratory disease including pneumonia. It was originally named Novel Coronavirus and The
World Health Organization (WHO) advised the following language associated with the virus. The
virus causing the infection has been named - severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
(SARS-CoV-2).

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the
transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.

 Civil Military Relations for War against COVID-19:

Of Pakistan’s many problems nothing is perhaps as enduring or as debilitating as the conflictual
relationship between its civilian leadership and the military. Unlike in most democratic
countries, Pakistan’s elected civilian government rarely commands the gun. Scholarly debates
and analyses have identified multiple reasons including weak political institutions and parties,
incompetent political leadership, the entrenched power of the civil-military bureaucracy, and
threats to Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Call to Pakistan Armed Forces

The Pakistan Armed Forces are the military forces of Pakistan. They are the sixth largest in the
world in terms of active military personnel. The armed forces comprise four main service
branches – Army, Navy, Air Force and paramilitary forces and the Strategic Plans Division Force.

For the war against COVID-19 in Pakistan, the military was deployed throughout the country as
the coronavirus cases surpassed 850 and six deaths were reported.

According to the first notification for Punjab:

“The Competent Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred under Article 245 of the
Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Section I31-A of is pleased to authorize
deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Army in Punjab province depending
upon the requirement to be worked out by the provincial Government in liaison with the Army
authorities in connection with the prevailing situation related to the spread of COVID-19 and
matters ancillary thereto, subject to laws enforced in Pakistan,".
Similar notifications were issued for Sindh, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir,
and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The notification comes at a time when the number of affected cases in the country had soared
past 800 and six people have succumbed to the infection in Pakistan. The Pakistan Army has
come to the aid of civil administration to combat the threat of coronavirus as the Command
and Control Centre announced the launch of a live national dashboard that will henceforth
provide confirmed and authentic data and updates on the status of coronavirus in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Minister for Information Dr
Firdous Ashiq Awan and Director General ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar announced
activation of the national data platform at a joint press conference held at the Command and
Control Centre, with no media presence and only the state-run television channel recording the
proceedings.

Major General Babar Iftikhar said the armed forces are fully prepared and activated to assist
civil institutions to combat coronavirus across the country.
The DG ISPR said security forces and its sub-ordinate institutions have continued
implementation of orders given by the higher authorities on land routes. The military
spokesman detailed that a medical team of all three-armed forces including Army, Navy and Air
Force has been formed and sensitive surgeries are being made in medical facilities.

Fund Raising Programs

In light of the pandemic many fund raising and donation programs started both at domestic and
national level. The best example is “Prime Ministers COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund” which
collected approximately an amount of Rs.10 Million of the very first day.

Like wise JDC, ALKIHDMAT, DAWAT-E-ISLAMIA etc., these foundations are really appreciable for
their work. JDC gives rashan to 10 thousand families each day. Dawat- e - Islamia gives 100
liters or above blood for corona patients; they also gives rashan in Karachi to poor families.
Shahid Khan Afridi foundation also started working for giving rashan to poor families.

All the institutions in Pakistan whether civil or military are working hard day and night to fight
COVID-19 and INSHAALLAH we will get out of this calamity very soon.