Prime Minister Imran Khan has called an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee to discuss measures to be taken to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading in the country.

Chief ministers of all four provinces have been invited to the meeting. The meeting will also be attended by ministers of defence, interior and foreign ministries as well as premier's aides on health Dr Zafar Mirza, economy Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, information and broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan and national security division Moeed Yusuf.

All three heads of the armed forces and the directors-general of Inter-Services Intelligence and Intelligence Bureau will also attend the meeting among other officials.