ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said on Monday that the government would use whatever administrative help is required, including the Pakistan Army’s, to ensure compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Addressing a media briefing in Islamabad, SAPM Sultan said it was necessary to ensure compliance of current NPIs and the government would make efforts for that through two ways: mass appeal to the nation to follow restrictions such as mask-wearing and avoiding crowds and administrative actions to increase compliance, particularly focusing on big cities and tourist destinations.
“We will take all administrative help for this as required, including the army’s help.”
He added that smart lockdowns would also be used again and “we think there are controls and restrictions needed on mobility as well.”
Additionally, only vaccinated people will be allowed to visit tourist resorts during the upcoming Eid holidays and this requirement will be “strictly enforced” upon the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and health ministry’s insistence, said Dr Sultan.
The SAPM emphasised that vaccines were a “very important strategy” to combat Covid-19, adding that ample number of doses were present in the country.
“Around 450,000 vaccines doses were administered yesterday and an additional six million doses are coming.”
SAPM Sultan said vaccination was the only way to “protect our population from Covid-19 spread”.
