Thousands of supporters of a religious party who blocked major roads to protest the arrest of their leader also disrupted critical oxygen supplies for Covid-19 patients, health officials said Tuesday.
Major intersections remained closed in Lahore after the arrest on Monday of the leader of the religious party.
The party has led calls for the expulsion of the French ambassador.
Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid said the disruption of oxygen supplies during protests Monday night had been a "crisis". "Please do not block roads for ambulances and for visitors to the hospitals. Some ambulances are carrying oxygen cylinders, which are extremely essential for Covid patients," Rashid said.
Punjab pandemic pointman Asad Aslam said several hospitals had faced oxygen shortages Monday night, but the situation had stabilised after roads were cleared by authorities.
Pakistan is in the grip of a deadly third wave of the coronavirus with a shortage of vaccines.