MONITORING DESK

KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday reported new positive coronavirus cases in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, taking the national tally to 453. In Balochistan, the number of positive cases soared to 81 after it reported 66 fresh cases on Thursday.

The Balochistan government has imposed a ban on public transport and declared a health emergency across the province to contain the deadly virus.

Provincial government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said that the employees of transport companies including drivers and conductors will be provided with the relief package.

Punjab government spokesperson Musarrat Cheema confirmed fresh positive cases of COVID-19 in a tweet. The number of confirmed cases in Punjab has soared to 78 - 14 in Lahore, 4 in Gujrat and 60 Zaireen (DG Khan 55, Multan 5).

According to a statement issued by the Sindh health department, 37 new cases of the contagion have emerged, taking the total number of coronavirus to 245 - 151 in Sukkur, 93 in Karachi and one in Hyderabad.

The number of such cases in KPK and AJK/GB rose to 23 and 24, respectively.

Pakistan confirmed its first two deaths in KP on Wednesday.