Colombo, March 22 (newsin.asia): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has told his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena in a telephone conversation on Sunday that Prime Minister Imran Khan has proposed that developed countries should facilitate developing countries to meet the coronavirus challenge through debt restructuring.
“They can use their limited resources to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on their economies and provide effective relief to poor people,” Qureshi said.
The two Foreign Ministers had detailed exchange of views on the situation arising from Covid-19 outbreak and ways to enhance cooperation to combat the threat posed by the rapid spread of the pandemic.
Reaffirming abiding commitment to the SAARC process, Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to host the SAARC Health Ministers’ Conference to enhance cooperation among member countries and development partners in the health sector, with particular focus on Covid-19.
He also proposed that a video conference could be organized first in view of the prevailing global health emergency.
SAARC provides an important platform for regional cooperation. There is a need to revitalize this key organization to tackle common challenges, Qureshi said.
In the context of effective efforts to combat the global pandemic, the Foreign Minister noted that Pakistan has proposed that sanctions on Iran be lifted so that humanitarian relief can be provided at this time of crisis to save precious human lives.
The two Ministers agreed to work closely to promote collaborative endeavors for regional benefit.
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