In the past 24 hours, 538 people recovered from the novel coronavirus taking the nationwide tally to 298,593. The recovery rate is 95.1 percent.

The country also reported 553 positive cases taking the tally to 313,984. So far, 137,783 cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 99,665 in Punjab, 15,323 in Balochistan and 37,908 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Similarly, Islamabad has recorded 16,713 cases, Gilgit-Baltistan has confirmed 3,816 while Azad Kashmir has reported 2,776 infections. There are currently 8,884 active cases.

In the last 24 hours, Pakistan also reported eight new deaths from COVID-19. So far, the country has lost 6,507 people to the novel virus.

On Friday, the National Command Operation Center ordered a crackdown against those restaurants and marriage halls violating coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said that indoor restaurants and marriage halls have been emerging as high contributors to coronavirus spread.

Worldwide, 34.31 million people have been infected with the virus while more than one million have died.