Pakistan has reported 3,876 over the past 24 hours — the highest since July last year. The last time the country reported more cases than this was on July 2, 2020, when 4,432 cases were recorded.

Following is a breakdown of the number of cases reported in each province and federal territories over the past 24 hours, according to official data:

• Sindh: 293

• Punjab: 2,033

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 681

• Balochistan: 16

• Islamabad: 747

• Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 106

The country's caseload has risen sharply in the last two weeks, with data suggesting an almost 50 per cent increase in daily cases week over week.

The positivity rate is hovering at the brink of double digits (9.5pc), the highest it has been since July, when Pakistan was in the throes of its first virus wave — so far its deadliest.