ISLAMABAD: Coronavirus is on the rise in the country as over 1,100 new cases and 42 deaths were reported during the last 24 hours, taking the national tally of Covid-19 cases to 32,916 and deaths to 733.

The federal cabinet on Tuesday took serious note of flagrant violation of the government’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) following reopening of several businesses as the Centre and Sindh threatened to reimpose the lockdown if people do not observe social distancing in markets and workplaces.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, while presiding over a meeting of the cabinet, made a significant announcement that now he would set timelines for every target to be given to the government quarters and directed the ministries to complete within a week lists of illegal appointments on lucrative positions during previous regimes.

The cabinet approved 39 proposed amendments to electoral laws and hinted that the government might also be working on reversal of the 18th Constitution Amendment — a move which may spark a new political battle between the government and the opposition.

“PM directed in the meeting that strict implementation on SOPs be done as in case of sharp spike in Covid-19 cases, the country’s hospitals will not have the capacity to cater for all patients,” Information Minister Shibli Faraz said at a post-cabinet meeting press conference.

He said the government had lifted the lockdown after its capacity to tackle the main restrictions [lockdown] had exhausted as no government could provide food to people at their homes, especially in Pakistan where the government had limited resources and inherited economic crunch.

Meanwhile, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar warned that the government would have no option but to impose complete lockdown again if people failed to “act in a responsible and cautious manner” in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the launching ceremony of Corona Relief Tiger Force activities, he said: “With crowded markets it seems that the virus has vanished and the situation has become normal.” He said the virus threat still persisted and it could even be worse.

Similarly, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said at a press conference that people’s non-serious attitude on the first day of lifting of the lockdown on Monday had compelled the provincial government to reconsider re-imposing lockdown restrictions.

At the post-cabinet meeting press conference, Information Minister Faraz said the prime minister had directed all ministries to compile their reports in a week regarding illegal appointments during previous regimes.