ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said on Tuesday the country had witnessed “significant improvement” in the compliance of coronavirus-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) after the government introduced strict enforcement mechanisms last month, including the deployment of the military in COVID-19 hotspot cities.
Last week, the media wing of the Pakistan army said there was “enhanced deployment” of its troops in 16 Pakistani cities where the coronavirus positivity ratio was increasing.
“Significant improvement seen in SOP compliance since the stronger enforcement measures including military deployment took place,” Umar said on Twitter. “National average compliance has doubled from 34 percent on 25th apr to 68 percent on 3rd may. Need to sustain and build on this compliance level specially till eid.”
Significant improvement seen in SOP compliance since the stronger enforcement measures including military deployment took place. National average compliance has doubled from 34% on 25th apr to 68% on 3rd may. Need to sustain and build on this compliance level specially till eid. pic.twitter.com/lf1Flz0LRT
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) May 4, 2021
Faced with a rising number of COVID-19 infections amid a third wave of the pandemic, Pakistan decided to deploy the armed forces on April 25 to enforce health safety protocols officially prescribed to curb the spread of the virus.
The government has also discussed the possibility of completely locking down major cities ahead of the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr festival if infection rates continue to climb, though Prime Minister Imran Khan has opposed the idea and asked the army to assist law enforcement officials in ensuring better enforcement of COVID-19 protocols instead.