After Pakistan's lockdown gamble, COVID-19 cases surge

FILE PHOTO: File picture of people shopping from stalls ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations after the government eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions, in Karachi, Pakistan May 21, 2020. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Four weeks ago, with its most important festival coming up and millions of people facing starvation as economic activity dwindled, Pakistan lifted a two-month-long coronavirus lockdown.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said despite rising infections and deaths, the country would need to learn to "live with" the virus to avert pushing tens of millions living on daily wages into destitution.