Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan on Tuesday rose to 20,941.
At least 7,646 cases reported in Punjab, 7,882 in Sindh, 3,288 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,218 in Balochistan, 372 in Gilgit Baltistan, 464 in Islamabad, and 71 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the National Command and Control Centre, the death toll related to COVID-19 has reached 476, while at least 5,635 patients have fully recovered.
The number of coronavirus cases has continued to soar despite the country being under a lockdown from the last month.
The Balochistan government has extended the ongoing lockdown across the province till May 15.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a meeting of the federal cabinet today (Tuesday) to discuss easing the lockdown in the country.
The cabinet will also discuss the economic challenges faced by the country due to the pandemic along with the relief package given under the Ehsaas Programme and power concession to small businesses.
The entire country is under the state of lockdown, which the premier said the government will lift gradually to alleviate poor economy.
Earlier, the government has extended the nation-wide lockdown till May 9 while cautioning the nation that the anti-virus fight had entered a decisive phase that would set the future course of action regarding the restrictions.
However, Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said the industries that are being opened include export sector, chemical manufacturing plants, e-commerce, software development and planning, paper and packaging units, industries with labor on site, cement and fertilizer plants, mines and minerals, plant nurseries, agricultural machinery plants, glass manufacturing plants, veterinary services and bookshops.
The agriculture sector will also remain open due to upcoming harvesting of wheat.
Global coronavirus cases surpassed 3.5 million on Tuesday and death toll tops 250,000.
