A young doctor who spearheaded the fight against novel coronavirus in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), has died, the region's spokesperson said, but did not specify whether he died of the virus or other causes.

Usama Riaz's death was confirmed on Sunday night by GB government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq, reports The News International.

The specialist had been dynamic in the screening of patients coming into the area from Taftan, a town which imparts a fringe to Iran, and had been praised for his grit. 

A 26 year old doctor from Pakistan’s northern Gilgit Baltistan (GB) region, Dr. Usama Riaz, died on Sunday after contracting the coronavirus while screening pilgrims returning from Iran, the GB government said in a statement. 

“The martyred, Dr. Usama, will be awarded a hero award,” the Gilgit Baltistan information department added in the statement.

His death brings the national tally of fatalities to four people. According to a federal portal which was updated Sunday evening, the total number of cases in the country stand at 760.

According to Dr. Shah Zaman, medical surveillance officer at GB screening camp, Riaz was on duty Friday evening and returned home after completing his shift. 

"It is with outrageous pity that the Gilgit-Baltistan wellbeing division affirms that Usama Riaz who assumed a key job in the war against coronavirus has died," the GB government's data office tweeted. 

The division included that the specialist would be formally proclaimed a national legend. 

Of the 799 affirmed cases in the nation, GB has announced 55 cases.