Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar has said that the world is now beginning to realise that enforcing a complete lockdown will "cause the economy to crumble".

He said: "We have to maintain smart lockdowns in hotspots because this way we can stop the spread in areas which are causing outbreaks and at the same time protect jobs and livelihoods by not imposing complete lockdowns."

He added that the government had already started enforcing a "smart lockdown" in several areas of the country including Islamabad. "Smart lockdown will be imposed from Lahore starting today and then the rest of the province."