As Pakis­tan embraces further relaxation in lockdown amid a sharp rise in death toll and coronavirus cases last week, the government hopes that the virus will not spread as rapidly as previously had been estimated but takes measures to prepare the nation for the worst.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar at a media briefing said that besides easing the restrictions, the government was taking certain steps including the use of latest technology to identify Covid-19 hotspots and ensure ‘smart’ lockdown in order to control local transmission.

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