Islamabad [Pakistan] August 12 (ANI): After a Pakistan Minister lambasted UK's decision to keeps Pakistan on its 'red list', the UK Department of Health and Social Care said that its decision was made on the basis of an assessment of the risk to public health.

The statement from UK authorities came after Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari accused the country of playing discriminatory politics against Islamabad following UK's recent decision to move India to the 'amber list' while keeping a ban on flights from Pakistan.

Also Read | ‘Virginity Tests’ on Female Recruits Stopped By Indonesian Army; Human Rights Groups Welcome The Decision.

Pakistan has not been removed from the list "due to the condition of a deteriorating epidemiological situation, combined with low testing rates and limited genomic surveillance," Department of Health and Social Care said in the statement.

The current trajectory of the pandemic in Pakistan is also of particular concern, in past seven days, the incidence of cases in the country has increased by 87 per cent on the previous week while the incidence of deaths have also increased by 75 per cent.

Also Read | India Has Key Role to Play in Contributing to Diversification of Global Supply Chain, Says Singapore Deputy PM Heng Swee Keat.

Major cities like Karachi have reported positivity rates of up to 20 per cent, the statement added. (ANI)

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)