ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives AsadUmar Wednesday once again warned that the government would have to closedown more sectors amid rising cases of COVID-19 and non-compliance of theSOPs.

Addressing media conference after chairing the National Command andOperation Center (NCOC) meeting here, the minister said that the nation wasnot observing SOPs as much as it did during the first wave of the pandemic.

“If we will not take it (the pandemic) serious, I fear that after a coupleweeks, the situation can become so worst that we will have no other choicebut to close down more sectors.”

“The most dangerous move is that some political parties are insisting toarrange big public gatherings despite ban on assembly of more than 300people at one place,” he said.He said Pakistan had successfully fought against the coronavirus during itsfirst wave with the efforts of the armed forces, the government, civiladministration, media, Ulemas and with greater contribution of the generalpublic.

Asad Umar pointed out that the world institutions including World EconomicForum and United Nations had praised the Pakistan government policiesduring COVID-19.