Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Raja Farooq Haidar indicated on Tuesday that continued closings could be eased on an experimental basis but only through strict enforcement of precautionary measures.

Speaking at a special cabinet meeting, he warned that if the public does not comply with the recommended precautions the government will have no choice but to tighten the closure again.

However he said any final decisions in this regard would be made after extensive consultations at all levels particularly with the state's religious and political leadership in the Kashmir Islamabad House on Wednesday.

He said the government was aware of the problems facing daily gambling and urged people who could afford to care for those people during Ramazan.
He also called on people to celebrate the holiday simply.

Meanwhile the number of COVID-19 patients in AJK rose to 51 after two other people including the Minister of Health's driver Dr. Najeeb Naqi Khan, showed positive results.

The sources told Dawn that the Islamabad-based minister was removed for a week although he did not show any symptoms.