Staff Reporter
Rawalpindi
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday said that no city in Pakistan could cope with a natural calamity at the scale of which has been suffered by Karachi, during the last few days.
The Army Chief was speaking during his visit to Karachi Corps Headquarters after he flew over the city for aerial reconnaissance of the ground impact of urban flooding in Karachi during his two-day visit to the provincial capital.
He was briefed about worst urban flooding in the recent history of Karachi and Army’s support to civil administration across Sindh and particularly Karachi. The COAS was apprised that unprecedented rains combined with decades of urban congestion, unplanned population settlements as well as infrastructural issues compounded the problem .
The Chief of Army Staff said that our issue is not non-availability of resources but setting priorities right. The COAS said that the plans being made by the federal and provincial governments will have Army’s all out support as having future repercussions on economic security of the country.
He said that this natural calamity has provided an opportunity to set the priority for management of mega cities across Pakistan to avoid such disasters in future. He said that this natural calamity provided opportunity to set the priority for management of mega cities across Pakistan to avoid such disasters in future.
The Army Chief expressed satisfaction on the pace of disaster relief work and directed that work priority should be given to areas of common public utility and worst hit communities first.
“At no point influence of a particular locality or community should be allowed to shift attention or resources from those in need. It’s a national disaster and everyone is in it together, he said. He reiterated that Army will not disappoint the population in their time of need.
The COAS appreciated garrison troops for maintaining law and order particularly during Muharram. He said that peace in national economic hub Karachi is vital for security and stability of Pakistan. “Efforts will continue to maintain normalcy in Karachi and the province,” he said.
Later, he interacted with retired, senior and serving garrison officers. He appreciated officers for their contribution towards defence and security of the country. Earlier, on arrival at Karachi, the COAS was received by Lt-Gen Humayun Aziz, Corps Commander of Karachi.
