Gen Bajwa reaches rain-hit Karachi on two-day visit

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa reached Karachi on a two-day visit on Tuesday and inspected rain-hit areas of the city. 

According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the army chief visited Karachi Corps Headquarters where he was briefed about the worst urban flooding in the recent history of Karachi and the army’s support to civil administration across Sindh.

“It’s a national disaster and everyone is in it together,” the army chief was quoted as saying. “The army will not disappoint the population in their time of need.”

He said the natural calamities of rains and floods have provided an opportunity to set priorities for the management of large cities across Pakistan to avoid such disasters in the future.

The army chief said that no city in Pakistan can cope with a natural calamity of this scale, adding that our issue is not the non-availability of resources but setting priorities right.

He said that the army will extend all support to the plans being made by the federal and provincial governments for future repercussions on economic security of the country. He reiterated the army will not disappoint the people in their time of need and expressed satisfaction on the pace of relief work.

General Bajwa directed that work priority should be given to areas of common public utility and worst-hit localities first. He said no influence of a particular locality or community should be allowed to shift attention or resources from those in need.

The army chief said that peace in national economic hub Karachi is vital for security and stability of the country and efforts will continue to maintain normalcy across Sindh. He appreciated troops of Karachi Corps for maintaining law and order during Muharram.