The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan has risen close to 3,000 on Saturday, after more cases were reported in Islamabad, Punjab and Sindh provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 

As the country enters its third week of lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus, Punjab is leading the tally of confirmed cases. 

So far Pakistan has reported 40 deaths from the virus.

Businesses remains shut, traffic are suspended and shopping malls are closed.

Under a health advisory issued by the government, people also remain at home.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan is walking a 'tightrope' to strike a balance between a lockdown necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus and ensuring its people do not die of hunger and its economy does not collapse.   

The prime minister along with Chief Minister Punjab Usman Bazdar visited the corona quarantine center established at the Expo Center Lahore.  

Health Minister Punjab Yasmin Rashid gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister about the facility.  

The prime minister visited different parts of the center, which can house 1,000 people.  

Talking to doctors and staff, Khan said that the entire nation is proud of their services.   

"Coronavirus will not spare anyone" warned Khan, advising people to not be 'foolish' and to take necessary precautions.    

The premier said that the coronavirus is a two-fold challenge, the government needed to curb its spread while balancing it with helping the weaker section of society.

Khan has said that the coronavirus is a very big challenge for the country but when the nation overcomes it, it will become stronger.    

He made these remarks while speaking at the ceremony of the prime minister's Corona Relief Fund in Lahore.

Meanwhile the government submitted a report  to the Supreme Court regarding its national action plan for combating the coronavirus pandemic across the country.

In its report, the government detailed the situation arising in the wake of the pandemic and the severity of suspected cases.

According to the report, by April 25, the number of coronavirus cases are feared to reach 50,000 in Pakistan. 

According to the breakdown provided in the report, around 7,000 cases of the total are expected to be critical in nature while around 2,500 could be a cause for concern. 

The government estimates that a further 41,000 cases could be of a mild nature, as it tries to maximize its testing capacity.  

The federal government has said that it has put in place an emergency plan costing 366 million U.S. dollars and guidelines have been prepared in consultation from medical experts.

According to the report, areas adjacent to Iran and along the Balochistan border have declared a state of emergency to cope with incoming infected individuals and preparations have been made to place patients in 154 districts under quarantine.

(Cover image: A man wears a protective mask as a preventive measure amid coronavirus fears, as he attends Friday prayers with others in Karachi, Pakistan March 13, 2020. /Reuters)