Coronavirus cases rise to 1,000 in Pakistan, 7 deaths reported

Besides, the eastern province of Punjab recorded nearly 300 coronavirus cases. The northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirmed 78 COVID-19 cases while Balochistan reported 110 cases, according to Dawn.

Pakistan has decided to suspend all domestic flights from March 26 to contain the spread of the virus in the country. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier said that he will not impose a country-wide lockdown. Khan urged people to self-quarantine themselves to fight coronavirus.

“Twenty-five percent of the population of our country lives under the poverty line. Putting the country under lockdown would mean that my daily-wage workers, street vendors, small shop-owners would be locked inside their homes. How would they earn then?" he said in his address to the nation.

Pakistan PM on Tuesday announced a multi-billion stimulus package to combat the deadly coronavirus and to facilitate poor people in the prevailing circumstances.

Khan said ₹200 billion have been allocated for the labour class to mitigate their sufferings, while the government is also reaching provinces and the business community to extend their assistance.

Pakistan government reserved ₹100 billion for release of tax refund immediately. Khan also added that ₹100 million have been allocated for Small and Medium Enterprises and agriculture sectors, along with deferment of interest payments, and concessional loan facility.

A 57-year-old patient died on Tuesday, taking the total number of toll in the country to seven. Earlier a doctor passed away in Pakistan due to COVID-19 infection.

The Tokyo Olympics were put off to next year as coronavirus deaths and infections surged in Europe and the US on Tuesday.

(With inputs from agencies)