The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 6,919 on Thursday after new infections were confirmed in the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 6,919
• Sindh: 2,008
• Punjab: 3,291
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 912
• Balochistan: 280
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 145
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 237
• AJK: 46
Deaths: 128
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 42
• Sindh: 45
• Balochistan:3
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 3
• Punjab: 34
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 1
Officials have recorded more than 2 million cases and as many as 120,000 deaths since the virus emerged in China in December.
Centre and provinces have decided to make lockdown more stricter: CM Sindh
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has announced that the federal government will have agreed to impose a stricter lockdown in the country in the coming 14 days.
The CM also announced that standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been set for the industries that will be allowed to open up. He added that the deputy commissioner of the area would check the SOPs after the owner will confirm their implementations.
Read also: Sindh govt extends coronavirus lockdown till April 30
The CM added that no one will be allowed to open up till they get the approval from the DCs.
Traders in Peshawar decide to close business on advice from the commissioner
Traders in Peshawar have decided to close down their businesses after meeting the commissioner of the city.
According to the chairman of the central committee of traders Shaukat Ali Khan, the government has advised the opening up of businesses at a certain time. He added that they also advised the government to provide support to small businesses.
Shaukat stated that businessmen should be given an interest-free loan between Rs1 million to Rs10 million.
Gilgit Baltistan govt to unveil SOPs for partial lockdown today
Advisor to Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan for Information Shams Mir announced that the government will unveil its schedule for the partial lockdown in the evening.
Mir stated that the government was working on creating SOPs regarding the partial lockdown.
He added that a schedule for a partial lockdown during Ramzan can be considered.
Trump halts World Health Organisation funding amid coronavirus pandemic
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would halt funding to the World Health Organisation over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic while his administration reviews its response to the global crisis, Reuters reported.
Read more: Donald Trump halts WHO funding over coronavirus, global death toll mounts
Trump, at a White House news conference, said the WHO had “failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable.” He said the group had promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak of the virus than otherwise would have occurred.
