The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has closed six marriage halls and 103 restaurants in Karachi for not complying with health guidelines.

"NCOC instructed all provinces, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad to ensure health guidelines and protocols for public safety and health and crack down on violations particularly in restaurants/marriage halls as these two places are emerging as epicentres of disease," the NCOC said.

Separately, Planning Minister Asad Umar said "indoor restaurants and marriage halls [are] emerging as high contributors to Covid spread," adding that the NCOC has directed provinces to take action against violation of SOPs in these places.

"We must not allow irresponsible behaviour of some to put the health of everyone at risk," he said.