ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Asad Umar has urged people to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) until Covid-19 vaccine arrives in Pakistan.

While briefing media over coronavirus situation in country, Asad Umar said that government’s decision to impose smart lockdown proved to be beneficial in longer run.

“We were asked not to impose smart lockdown but we had to take that decision in wake of increasing coronavirus cases. Around 50 million people are daily wagers in Pakistan. More than 20 million people suffered due to closure of businesses when we imposed nationwide lockdown. So we opened industries phase-wise keeping in view the situation,” he said.

Asad Umar added that people suffered immensely due to closure of construction industry so government had to open it at earliest.

“Second wave of coronavirus peaked in November and December in Pakistan. Now we have to protect ourselves from third wave of virus. The vaccine arrival will take some time, so I request you all to follow precautionary measures meanwhile,” he said.

Pakistan has reported 41 coronavirus deaths and 2,408 new positive cases in one day.

According to National Command and Control Center (NCOC), around 2,408 cases of coronavirus were reported while 41 people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 10,717.

The total number of confirmed cases reached to 506,701.