Pakistan: Number of COVID-19 cases cross 10,000 mark, country gears up for 'critical' upcoming weeks

“We are comparatively in a better situation and we have to maintain it,” he was quoted as saying by The Nation.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza also voiced concern when he said the next three to four weeks are going to be crucial for Pakistan.

"In the last 24 hours, we have received the highest number of deaths from COVID-19, 17, for the third time in Pakistan," he was quoted as saying by Geo News.

"The coming three to four weeks in Pakistan are critical," he said.

Imran Khan tested:

Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Coronavirus Dr Faisal Sultan informed that Prime Minister Imran Khan's sample has been taken to determine whether he has the coronavirus or not, reported Geo News.

Sultan was quoted as saying by the news channel, "I am happy to announce that the prime minister, being a responsible prime minister and a responsible citizen, has agreed to get tested on my advice."

Sindh CM expresses concern over rising number of cases:

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday expressed his concern over the increase in COVID-19 positive cases in Karachi city.

"Sindh has recorded the highest daily increase in number of confirmed cases today. The total number of cases in the country has crossed 10,000 already. Most of the cases in Sindh are from Karachi. This is very concerning," CM Shah said in his statement as reported by Geo News.

"320 new cases emerged in Sindh today and take the total number of cases in the province to 3,373. Local transmission of virus cases is increasing and all of us need to keep our eyes open to this ominous development," CM Shah said addressing the citizens.

"Three more patients have also died of the virus, bringing the total number of virus deaths in the province to 69," he said, before presenting the breakdown of the virus cases in localities in Sindh and across the province.

Pakistan has recorded 10072 COVID-19 positive cases so far.

The country reported 212 deaths.

Punjab and Sindh regions have seen major spikes in cases.

Punjab region has recorded 4331 positive cases so far.

Meanwhile,  the Cooperative Society of Gilgit-Baltistan has asked the Pakistan government to sanction Rs 10,000 crore  to make up for the financial loss caused by COVID-19 outbreak.

Meer Nawaz Khan, President of Cooperative Society of Gilgit-Baltistan was quoted as saying by ANI, "We appreciate the central government's announcement of Rs 120,000 crore to battle the current crisis. We demand that Rs 10,000 crore of that amount should be sanctioned for Gilgit-Baltistan." 

Gilgit-Baltistan has registered 257 COVID-19 positive cases so far.

It is believed the occupied region bordering China's Xinjiang province have many unreported COVID-19 cases due to lack of testing labs and kits, reports ANI.