Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) to formulate a strategy in the wake of an alarming surge in the coronavirus cases across Pakistan.
The meeting will discuss whether the situation in Pakistan warranted a complete lockdown or the government can still control the situation by imposing lockdowns in particular cities to curb the infections. The meeting will also deliberate on the reopening/closure of educational institutions amid complaints by students and parents.
The meeting that will be held after Friday prayers will also seek advice from the provinces regarding measures to contain the third wave.
Pakistan reported 144 deaths and at least 5,870 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, said the NCOC in its daily statement on Friday.
Out of 144 deaths, 57 patients died on the ventilators. At least 4,652 patients are in a critical condition, as per the NCOC.
On Thursday, 72 died in Punjab, 14 in Sindh, 37 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three in Islamabad, one in Balochistan, and six in Azad Kashmir.
On Wednesday, NCOC head and Planning Minister Asad Umar said that the government will be forced to impose a lockdown in major cities if the current trajectory of coronavirus infections continues in Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters after the NCOC meeting, Umar had said that the coronavirus situation in Pakistan was “extremely serious”. “Take care of yourself and your fellow Pakistanis. The situation needs to be taken seriously.”
He said that the NCOC had taken a decision on the imposition of more restrictions that would be shared with the provinces, adding that the new restrictions will be announced on Friday.
He had urged the people to realise the gravity of the situation, saying if the government would have no choice but to shut down the major cities if the virus continued to spread at the current pace.
