Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has urged people to follow Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent the imposition of a complete lockdown.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, he said: "If the situation does not improve within one week then we will have to think about a complete lockdown.

"Ultimately, if lives are endangered then the economy will take a backseat," said the information minister, adding that he was glad that PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz had cancelled her visit to Karachi due to the Covid-19 threat.

He also called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan to formulate SOPs for election campaigns, citing the example of India where election rallies had played a major part in the spread of the disease.