President Arif Alvi has raised fears of a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in Lahore, calling for gearing up safety drive to stem the spread of deadly virus.

“From 1.5 million to 20 million people in Lahore may contract the deadly coronavirus,” the president told a TV channel on Tuesday – a day after provincial health department warned that estimates might reach 670,000 in the capital the most populated province.

He sought media and civil society role for saving lives, saying that media should play pivotal part in the ongoing war on the deadly virus.

The president said that putting on mask is made mandatory for all and insisted on following the SOPs.

Senior citizens are more vulnerable to the infection and one patient gets three persons infected with coronavirus, he said, adding that the virus also inflicts damage upon heart.

About the recent plane crash in Karachi, Alvi insisted probe into such tragedies must be publicised. The Karachi plane tragedy be publicised at the earliest, he said, adding that he phoned the families of 25 victims to express condolence.

He called for taking campaign against sugar and flour mafia to its logical conclusion so that such corruption could be curbed. He said he had raised voice against sugar mafia in the past. The president also shared the government’s feats for economic reforms and stance on the held Kashmir.