Federal Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar on Sunday said that the way the number of coronavirus cases is rising in Pakistan day by day the experts are warning that the infections could top one million by the end of July.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Asad Umar said at the moment there were nearly 150,000 coronavirus cases in the country and it is believed that they might shoot up to 300,000 by the end of the current month.

The minister informed that administration measures are being multiplied to minimize the impact of this spike in cases on the people.

Asad Umar claimed that Pakistan took better decisions as compared to the other countries to stem the spread of the deadly virus that has killed 2,632 people in the country so far.

Asad Umar said masks are mandatory to contain the COVId-19 spread. “A research suggested that 50 percent virus can be constrained if masks are properly used,” he declared.

He urged the people to wear masks and maintain social distancing if they want to defend themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19.

“The government has issued guidelines regarding wearing masks and observing social distancing that people must follow,” he said and added "This is the simplest way to ensure that businesses remain open and the wheel of the economy keeps spinning."

He warned that if people failed to follow preventive guidelines issued by the government then it would result in "people losing their livelihoods".

Every day in Pakistan is now bringing in more and more coronavirus cases as the country reported the highest number of newly-infected people during the past 24 hours after which the total climbed to 139,230.

Apart from these 6,825 new cases recorded Saturday, another 81 people died from the virus during the same period, raising the death toll to 2,632.

The latest figures released by National Command and Operation Centre on Sunday morning means that 35,559 new cases have so far been reported in the country this week [Monday to Saturday] along with 565 deaths.