Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday urged the masses to strictly observe the government's mandated COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the occasion of Eid ul Azha to keep the virus at bay, reported 24NewsHD TV.

PM Imran Khan warned the nation about the dangers of the Delta variant - which first emerged in India - and said that India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Indonesia are currently suffering because of it.

"Given the current situation in countries like Afghanistan, where there is an acute shortage of oxygen, I would like to say a few things to the nation," the PM said.

He said so far, Allah has been very merciful towards Pakistan and even foreign publications like The Economist has listed Pakistan as one of the top three nations that were able to control the pandemic in an efficient way.

He lauded the government, particularly the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for carrying out research and taking timely decisions to contain the virus from spreading.

He said that Pakistan was the only Muslim country that kept mosques open for two consecutive Ramazans - thanks to the efforts, monitoring, and preemptive measures of the NCOC as well as the cooperative attitude of the nation.

"It was also because of the cooperation of the Pakistani nation that the government could save the country from getting into a catastrophic situation [like other countries]," the premier said.

The premier said that at present, however, the coronavirus cases in the country are suddenly rising again after plummeting because of the arrival of the Delta variant in the country.

He explained that masks should be worn at all times whenever someone is in a confined space with other people - including wedding functions, restaurants, and rooms - because the chances of the virus spreading within indoor environments are extremely high.

"If someone is out in the open, for example in a park, they can take their masks off, but when they are inside a bus or a car with other people, for instance, they must wear a mask," the premier explained while holding a mask in his hands."It's a very easy job to wear a mask, and this simple step can save the country and our economy from disaster."