Shaikh Rasheed says govt 'may impose smart lockdowns' in coming days

Minister for Interior Shaikh Rasheed has said that it is possible the government may impose strict restrictions and smart lockdowns in the coming days; however, decision makers will also need to assess the impact of such a decision on the poor and working classes.

Meanwhile, sources in the interior ministry have said there is no plan for an immediate lockdown in Islamabad and that any decision in this regard can only be taken on the recommendation of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC).

As reports began to circulate of a nationwide lockdown, Rasheed issued a video statement to set the record straight

"I did not say at all that a lockdown will begin on Monday. False reports attributed to me have been circulating," he began by saying.

He said that he had responded to various channels' beepers and had said that on Monday, in coronavirus hotspots, the NCOC "may consider smart lockdowns".

"I did not speak of a complete, nationwide lockdown at all. So I wish to say to everyone, this is a false report being circulated," Rasheed said.

He added that the decision, in any case, will be taken by the NCOC and does not fall under the purview of the interior ministry.

Pakistan's coronavirus positivity ratio has been on the rise and jumped from 8% a day earlier to nearly 10% today.

As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan carried out 40,946 tests in the last 24 hours out of which 3,876 returned positive, taking the national positivity ratio to 9.46%.

With the new cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan reached 623,135 and the active cases in the country stand at 27,188.

Additionally, the country lost 42 people to the deadly virus in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide death tally to 13,799.