Pakistan Army Major Asghar becomes first armed forces causality to COVID-19
The first Pakistan military service member has died from the coronavirus in the city of Peshawar, the officials said.
Major Muhammad Asghar reportedly contracted the virus at the Torkham Border — one of the two key crossings with neighboring Afghanistan — to manage the screening of the people, and movement of logistic convoys to the Afghanistan.
“Major Muhammad Asghar laid his life in the line of duty at Torkham Border in fight against COVID-19. He was managing Torkham Border to ensure screening of people and move of logistic convoys to Afghanistan,” Pakistan Army statement said.
He was admitted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Peshawar with breathing difficulties and put on a ventilator but succumbed to coronavirus, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – the media wing of Pakistan armed forces.
The DG ISPR tweet acknowledging the sacrifice of Major Muhammad Asghar said that he “laid his life in the line of duty adding that “There is no cause bigger than serving the nation.”
More than 30,000 cases of coronavirus and 667 deaths have been reported in Pakistan as of May 11. For latest statistics check the official website.