Over a dozen Balochistan districts have not registered a single coronavirus case

ISLAMABAD: Being a remote region is of little advantage in normal circumstances except when a pandemic strikes. Over a dozen far-flung districts in Balochistan have not reported even a single case of the novel coronavirus as the rest of Pakistan witnesses record spikes in fresh cases.

With a population of around six million, these districts are underdeveloped. Natural social distancing and ban on inter-provincial transport are the main reason that the virus did not spread in these areas, according to provincial authorities.

The authorities, however, fear that these areas may witness the virus infection after virus-testing facilities are extended to these districts. Some 15 districts in Pakistan are being considered as the epicentre of the outbreak, with more reported infections and deaths.

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A total of 141 districts have so far recorded more than 21, 600 cases and over 480 deaths, according to official data and figures exclusively obtained by Geo News. Virus-free districts include Awaran, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Gwadar, Kach, Khuzdar, Qila Saifullah, Kohlu, Lehri, and Nasirabad in Balochistan.

Two districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir — namely Hattian and Haveli — are also virus-free so far as per official data exclusively shared by Planning Minister Asad Umar, who also chairs the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

Infection-free districts and cities include Nasirabad, Dera Murad Jamali, Chhatter, Tamboo, Baba Kot, and Azizabad — with a collective population of 0.6 million people. Towns of Lehri and Bhag with population of 0.15 million, Kohlu with 0.214 million, and Qila Saifullah and Muslim Bagh with 0.3 million are also free of COVID-19.

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Khuzdar with a million, Kech (Turbat) with 0.9 million, Gwadar with 0.3 million, Awaran, Jhal Jhao, and Mashakai with 0.2 million, Dera Bugti, Pirkoh, Sui, and Phelawagh with 0.4 million, Barkhan, Hattian Bala, Chikkar, and Leepa with 0.3 million, and Haveli with 0.2 million population are considered to be virus free.

"We will take some random samples from these virus free districts too in an effort to check the outbreak in these areas," said Liaquat Shahwani, the spokesperson for the Balochistan government.

"Our decision would be based on the spread, the number of cases and the deaths related to coronavirus."

Worst-affected districts in Pakistan

Almost 5,000 people tested positive in four districts of Karachi, 426 in Sukkur, 319 in Hyderabad, and 207 in Khairpur, according to official figures.

Nearly 3,604 people tested positive in Lahore, 800 in Rawalpindi, 370 in Multan, 344 in Gujrat, 277 in Gujranwala, and 217 cases in Dera Ghazi Khan. In Islamabad, 330 people tested positive, according to official figures.

Official figures reveal that around 1,000 positive cases were identified in Peshawar, 283 in Swat, 200 in Mardan, and 136 in Malakand.

Some 882 people tested positive in Quetta, 24 in Jaffarabad, 25 in Mastung, and 12 in Qilla Abdullah.

Almost 100 patients tested positive in Nagar, 46 in Skardu, and 77 in Gilgit, 16 in Mirpur, 15 in Bhimber, and 12 in Sudhnoti.

Pakistan witnessed more than 480 coronavirus deaths in 60 districts, data shows.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 185 deaths in 23 districts. Of those, over 80 deaths were recorded in Peshawar, 14 in Swat, eight in Mardan, seven in Charsadda, and six in Kurram. 

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Five patients died of the virus in Lower Dir and Mansehra, four in Malakand, three each in Swabi, Nowshera, Mohamand, Kohat, and Abbottabad, two each in Buner, Shangla, Bajaur, and Khyber, and one each in Upper Dir, Battagram, Hangu, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Sindh witnessed 137 deaths due to the virus in eight districts. Over 110 patients died in Karachi, four in Sukkur, two in Hyderabad, and one each in Shaheed Benazirabad, Matiari, Larkana, Ghotki, and Tando Muhammad Khan.

More than 136 patients lost their lives in Punjab, with 57 deaths recorded in Lahore, 18 in Rawalpindi, nine in Multan, four in Faisalabad, three each in Rahim Yar Khan, Gujrat, and Sheikhupra, and two each in Bahawalpur, Jhelum, Khanewal, and Gujranwala.

One death each was recorded in Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Lodhran, Attock, Rajanpur, Okara, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Jhang, Sialkot, and Toba Tek Singh.

Balochistan registered 38 coronavirus deaths, with 20 in Quetta, three in Pishin, and one in Sibi.

Gilgit-Baltistan recorded three deaths, with one each in Astore, Gilgit, and Nagar.

Four patients died in the federal capital while Azad Jammu and Kashmir did not witness any virus-related death, official data reveals.