Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar urged the opposition to suggest an alternative strategy for addressing the country's coronavirus outbreak, if they were unhappy with the government's response.

Citing the example of India, he said: "In March, Modi imposed a strict lockdown without prior warning. And look at what happened. The economy was affected, millions slept hungry and migrant workers were forced to walk back home. And India still couldn't stop the spread.

"What is it that you wanted again? A lockdown?"

A lockdown is not the solution, because if it were, India would be virus-free today and the US wouldn't have lifted restrictions, he said.