Pakistan’s outgoing finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has tested positive for COVID-19.
He is the third senior government official to do so in 24 hours, a week after Prime Minister Imran Khan announced he himself had contracted the virus.
“Just found out that Dr Hafeez [Shaikh] has tested positive for Covid-19. I pray for his swift recovery and good health,” Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar wrote on Twitter.
Shaikh was removed from his post as finance minister on Monday, over concerns about rising inflation in the country. Also on Monday, President Arif Alvi as well as Defence Minister Pervez Khattak announced they had both tested positive for COVID-19.
Pakistan recorded 100 deaths in the last 24 hours, and 4,084 new infections, with a national positivity rate of 8.8% – meaning for every 100 individuals tested, 8.8% tested positive for coronavirus.
