NCOC tweeted: 59,707 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours of which 4,497 tested positive. This takes the total tally to 1,020,324.

The positivity rate stands at 7.5%. The day before the rate stood at 7.8%.

However, the number of deaths reported in the last 24 hours is significantly higher than previous data.

With 76 deaths, the total death toll stands at 23,209.

As Geo also reported: 1,612 patients have recovered from the virus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 937,354 while the number of active cases is 59,761.

Sindh worst affected

As Sindh grapples with the fourth wave, there are suggestions that the province go into a 2-week lockdown in a bid to contain the virus. The government is expected to make a decision on this after consulting with various stakeholders.

Secretary-General of the Pakistan Medical Association Dr Qaiser Sajjad has expressed serious concerns about the 30% positivity rate reported for Karachi.

"If we count those people who have not taken a PCR test for COVID-19, the positivity ratio in the city has likely reached 40%," Dr Sajjad told Geo News.

He believes there is no other option but a complete lockdown.