Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that the unfortunate back and forth between the Centre and the provincial government regarding the coronavirus outbreak — which was initiated by the federal government — has drawn attention away from the real issues at hand.

Addressing a press conference, he said: "Perhaps that was the reason behind their statements; to divert attention away from the Sindh government's efforts to curb the outbreak."

He added that the Sindh government had started preparing for a possible outbreak long before the first case emerged in Pakistan.