The National Command and Operation Centre has discussed ongoing efforts to deal with the coronavirus crisis and the steps taken by different ministries to combat the disease, APP reported.

The meeting, chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar, discussed:

• Standard Operating Procedures for industries in case the NCC decides to ease lockdown for businesses

• Formulating a plan for Ramazan after consultation between interior ministry and religious scholars

• Manufacturing of five types of ventilators by the Pakistan Engineering Council. The NCOC has been told that eight designs have been submitted for approval and clinical trials have started

• Decision regarding local development of testing kit will be taken within the next 36 hours by Ministry of Science and Technology, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and National University of Science and Technology

• Bringing back and quarantining 1,950 Pakistanis stranded abroad, this week