The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday decided to extend timings for business and commercial activities to 10pm while essential services would continue to operate 24/7 amid decline in Covid 19 cases.

The decision was taken in a meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar.

According to the statement issued by NCOC, it also allowed the resumption of indoor dining for vaccinated individuals, subject to 50 per cent occupancy.

NCOC also decided that up to 400 guests would be allowed for outdoor weddings with strict adherence to Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and indoor weddings would be allowed for up to 200 vaccinated individuals.

The forum also directed restaurant and hotel management to institute a mechanism for checking of vaccination certificates of guests and to ensure vaccination of respective management and staff.

According to the press release shrines are allowed to re-open at the discretion of federating units with strict adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

"Cinemas are allowed to re-open with strict Covid protocols for vaccinated individuals only till 1am," said the press release adding that management of cinemas would institute a similar mechanism for checking the vaccination certificates of visitors and to ensure vaccination of respective management and staff.

Meanwhile during the last 24 hours, 914 new cases were reported in Pakistan, bringing the total number of corona patients in Pakistan to 955,657.

According to the National Command and Operations Center, Punjab was most affected by the corona virus, where the number of corona patients rose to 345,900.