Decision on lockdown to be taken today

While addressing a press conference on Monday, he said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will preside a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on April 14 to discuss the prevailing situation in the country. Based on the discussion in the meeting, the final decision will be taken.

He said that the business community should play a responsible role and take precautions to protect the workers from health hazards. “The government is also considering passing a law to make it compulsory for businesses to ensure proper measures to protect the employees from disease”, said Asad Umar.

Umar highlighted that Pakistan's situation is better than most developed countries as far as the confirmed COVID-19 cases are concerned.  “The government has taken measures to curb the outbreak but it cannot deal with the challenge alone", he added.

The minister also emphasized the importance of quarantining and self-distancing to contain the virus. He said that the government was also looking to increase the testing capacity to 25,000 per day by the end of this month.

Special Assistant to PM for Health Zafar Mirza said Pakistan would soon be able to produce N-95 masks locally. He added, “We will not have to import them."