
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran and his aides on Thursday reiterated that the coronavirus situation in Pakistan is ''not bad'' even as the number of confirmed cases in the country exceed 16,000.
Addressing a news briefing along with his aides in Islamabad, the premier said the number of cases in the country are"lower than feared".
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He also said that he "thought that our intensive care units (ICUs) would be filled by now but that is not the case".
On being questioned about lifting the lockdown in the country, Imran Khan saidthat easing of the lockdown after May 9 depended on whether people were following the restrictions and social distancing measures.
Echoing the Pakistan PM's sentiments, the Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar assured that the country's coronavirus situation is ''not out of control''.
Comparing Pakistan's situation to neighbouring Iran which has been badly affected by the virus, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said that Pakistan was "comparatively better off".
Pakistan has recorded 16,329 confirmed coronavirus cases, out of which Sindh and Punjab alone have recorded more than 6,000 cases.
20 fatalities, 12 in Sindh and 8 in Punjab, have taken the country's death toll to 361.