PM Imran Khan chairs NCC meeting as Punjab seen spike in coronavirus cases.

ISLAMABAD -- Around 140 more people were tested positive for novel coronavirus on Thursday - taking the national tally of infections to 1,197 - as the newly formed National Coordination Committee (NCC) for COVID-19 decided to keep all educational institution in the country closed till May 31.

Most of the new cases were reported in Punjab, where the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department confirmed 70 new infections. With these new cases, the total number of coronavirus case in Pakistan's biggest province jumped to 405. One of the patients also died on Thursday.

According to the department, 207 people in DG Khan, 22 in Multan, 103 in Lahore, 22 in Gujrat, 8 in Gujranwala, 19 in Jhelum, 12 in Rawalpindi, 3 in Faisalabad, 2 each in Mandi Bahauddin and Mianwali and 1 each in Narowal, Sargodha, Attock, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan were tested positive.

The total number of infection in Sindh rose to 422, Balochistan, 131, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), 123, Islamabad, 25, and Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 85.

To take stock of the situation, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired the NCC meeting which decided to limit number of people participating in congregational prayers at mosques

After the meeting, the Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar announced that the educational institutions would remain closed till May end - a decision taken in agreement with all provinces.

Umar was flanked by Minister for Religious Affairs Dr Noorul Haq Qadri, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chief.

The planning minister said the difficulties faced by transporters due lockdown will be discussed by the NCC in its meeting on March 27 (today).

'A team would work on data analytics so that decisions could be taken on the basis of data and the on-ground situation. Another team is ensuring implementation of the economic package announced by the premier two days back,' he added.

He dismissed the reports that there was a shortage of wheat flour in parts of the country. 'There is no shortage as 170,000 tonnes of flour is available in the country,' he said.

Umar said the officials and representatives of the federal government and provinces will now work at the National Command Centre in the NDMA to ensure that all people working on the coronavirus are at one place and can share and exchange data and...