Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that pilgrims returning from Iran and those returning to Pakistan from other countries made up the bulk of reported Covid-19 cases.

He said: "I don't want to criticise anyone during this press conference, I won't tell you how things were mishandled at the Pakistan-Iran border at Taftan."

He added that once it was decided to send the pilgrims back to their provinces, the Sindh government decided it was imperative to quarantine the returnees. "Therefore, we set up quarantine facilities in existing labour colonies across the province."