Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has said that the World Health Organisation is viewing the Covid-19 situation in the country through a "health lens" whereas the government has to look at the "holistic picture".

Responding to a letter by the WHO, he said: "The government's choice of policies has been guided by the best evidence available about the disease spread and our best assessment of the fast deteriorating socio-economic conditions in the country,"

He added, however, that the government has to make "tough policy choices" to maintain the balance between lives and livelihoods. He said that although the lockdown had been eased, there was increased focus on enforcing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government to prevent the spread of the virus.

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