ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority said on Sunday the country was carrying out 6,000 daily COVID-19 tests regularly, a sharp increase from testing figures earlier this month.

As of Sunday, data from the federal Covid-19 portal revealed a little over 98,500 tests had been carried out in total in the country of 210 million people since February. The death toll from the virus surged past the 160 mark on Sunday and the infection tally crossed 8,000 cases in the country. 

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, NDMA Chairman Lt General Mohammad Afzal said dozens of laboratories were now testing thousands of suspected patients across the country.

“50 laboratories are working across the country and are conducing around 6,000 coronavirus tests regularly,” Lt. General Afzal said on Sunday.

He also said 100,000 testing kits would be distributed among the provinces on Monday to help them enhance their diagnostic capacity.

While speaking to reporters, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar said on Saturday the government had pledged to increase daily testing to 25,000 a day. He said in the last three days, 5,800, 6,200, and 6,400 tests had been carried out per day.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry said on Sunday Pakistan could now manufacture its own masks and personal protective equipment, and could export sanitisers, with testing kits and ventilators in the last stages of trials.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the country could face a sharp surge in coronavirus cases from mid-May with the health care system coming under enormous pressure.

Khan said 50,000 cases were initially expected by April 25, but said the early lockdown saved the country from “disaster.”

However, in a surprise announcement, Pakistan announced on Saturday it would be allowing Ramadan congregational prayers to take place in mosques around the country, conditional on preventive guidelines.