Dhaka, March 22 (UNB): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for SAARC Emergency Fund for fighting the coronavirus pandemic collectively, and his initial offer of US$ 10 million for the fund, has resulted in almost all member countries pledging contributions.
According to an official here, Bangladesh has pledged US$ 1.5 million, Nepal US$1 million, Afghanistan US$ 1 million, Maldives US$ 200000 and Bhutan US$ 100000. Pakistan is missing from this list. But it has offered to host a SAARC Health Minister’s conference.
On March 15, Modi said in a SAARC leaders’ video conference, that the emergency fund could be based on voluntary contributions and that India can start with an initial offer of US$ 10 million.
The aim of the fund is to help any SAARC nation meet the cost of emergency action to combat this pandemic. The Foreign Secretaries of SAARC countries will finalize the concepts and the operational rules.