Miscellaneous National Tasks
Assistance in Aid of Civil Administration
Army has been always forthcoming in assisting civil administration with its own resources in all tasks which has a contributory effect towards nation building.
Elections / Census
Army has played an extremely important role in conduct of fair and free election and successful census.
Establishment of National Data Base
For the first time in the history, a National Data Base is being created in the country, data for which was collected by the Army during conduct of Census. Army has also provided basic manpower infrastructure including officers and men for conduct of the task. Once completed it will help government in providing good governance through improved decision making at all levels.
Other tasks also include assistance in conducting of national elections in 1993 and 1996, carrying out the much delayed national census in 1998, survey of Ghost Schools providing assistance in improved functioning of WAPDA and desilting of canals. A comparison of desilting in 1999 and 2000 to show the difference made by participation of Army in this operation under Army:
* 15,544 miles desilted as compared to 6,742 miles in previous year.
* Rs. 129 million were expended as compared to Rs. 322 million expended in the previous year.
* 55,000 outlets were checked, 32000 were found tampered and were corrected.
* 30-40% extra supply of water was received by tail end users.
* Desilting of canals and water channels contributed, in a large measure, to the bumper wheat crop of 23 million tons in one of the driest years of last two decades.
Education System
Army is already running some of the best education institutions in the country. National University of Science and Technology, Cadet Colleges and a large no of Army Public Schools/ Federal Government institutions are few visible examples. The beneficiaries include 57% civilians.
Crisis Management
Since independence there have been numerous occasions where the services of the armed forces have been requisitioned by the civil authorities to enable them to cope with disasters or difficulties for which they found their own resources inadequate. These tasks have ranged from rescue and relief operations during natural calamities like earthquake and floods, occasional tasks like Anti-Locust Operations undertaken during the locust menace of 1951-53 in Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan, to Anti Wild Boar Operations of 1961 carried out in Punjab and Sindh. Each formation of the Army in any part of the country has detailed plans prepared and duties well defined to deal with these contingencies at short notice. Some of the task Army is and has been employed in Aid of Civil Power are:
Law and Order
Army is always called in to restore law and order during sectarian, political and other incidents of violence.
Flood Relief Operations
Participation of Army in Flood Relief Operations has assumed permanence. These include rescue of life livestock and property, distribution of food, clothing, epidemic control and earth works.
Relief Missions to Iran
The recorded proof of which is our latest humanitarian sp to Iranian brothers who were hit by an earthquake claiming approx 50,000 lives. Details are given in succeeding paras.
As a result of the earthquake, which hit the Bam City of Iran on 26 December 2003, a self-sustaining 50-bedded Field Hospital was deployed in Iran on 30 December 2003 and an Engineer Task Force on 6 January 2004. Troops for Field Hospital and Engineers Task Force were mustered and formed within a period of 24 hours and 72 hours respectively.
After completion of relief work, Pak Field Hospital was de-inducted on 22 January 2004 and Engineers Task Force was de-inducted on 18 February 2004.
Humanitarian assistance provided by both contingents was highly appreciated by the people and Government of Iran in general and residents of Bam in particular. The Prime Minister of Pakistan has also conveyed his appreciation of good work undertaken by Pakistan Army.
Significant achievements of both relief missions are as under:
Field Hospital
* Treatment provided to over 20010 patients, which included major / minor operations of 993 patients.
Engineer Task Force
* Debris clearing of 245 houses.
* Leveling of ground in an area of 406,500 square meters.
* Shifting of relief stores and Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants containers (foodstuff and blankets) for Red Crescent within Bam city.