LIVE: Pakistan to partially open airspace today as COVID-19 tally soars to 176,617.

MUZAFFARABAD -- The novel coronavirus emerged in the central China city of Wuhan towards the end of last year and proliferated to almost the whole world within a couple of months. It's not the virulence or fatality, but the infectivity of the new virus - also known as SARS-CoV-2 - that has set off a global frenzy.

The Covid-19 respiratory illness caused By: this mysterious contagion has so far infected more than 8.7 million people in 202 countries and territories of the world - and over 461,000 of them have died and counting.

Pakistan, despite its close proximity with China, remained coronavirus-free until February 26 when a young man from Karachi tested positive after returning from Iran - one of the worst-hit countries. After a brief hiatus following the first case, Covid-19 cases spiked as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive for the virus.

Nearly one-and-a-half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to ease the lockdown in phases.

The nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stands at 176,617 with 65,739 cases in Punjab, 67,353 in Sindh, 21,444 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 9,328 in Balochistan, 1,278 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 10,662 in Islamabad and 813 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The virus has claimed at least 3,438 lives while around 65,331 coronavirus patients have recovered.

The situation remains fluid and we're updating stats as soon as new figures are officially released.

Follow The Express Tribune's live coverage of the pandemic here.

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10:10am: Rawalpindi reports 91 new cases

Rawalpindi's district administration reported 91 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the city's total to 5,086.

248 persons have succumbed to the deadly disease in the city, while 2,443 patients have recovered.

line-945-15248325229:30am: PIA special flight to depart from New Jersey for Lahore on June 27

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) special flight for the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis will depart Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey for Lahore on June 27.

This will be the seventh special flight from the United States (US).

line-945-15248325229:15am: Pakistan to reopen Ghulam Khan border terminal for trade with Afghanistan from Monday

Pakistan will open its border terminal at Ghulam Khan for bilateral trade with Afghanistan from Monday.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the decision was made in view...