ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for devising a viable framework for an equitable and affordable supply of COVID-19 vaccine to Developing Countries.
In his virtual address at the 4th Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD): Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Financing for Development (FfD), on Monday, the prime minister said that coverage of the COVAX facility must be expanded enabling the developing countries to spend their precious resources on socio-economic development needs.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI‘s virtual keynote address at the 4th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (@UNCTAD): Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Financing for Development. pic.twitter.com/wQ4AXByClc
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) January 25, 2021
Suggesting a five-point framework to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering economies, he said that debt re-payments for the most stressed Countries should be suspended until the end of the pandemic.
The prime minister said that public-sector debt under an agreed and inclusive multilateral framework should be restructured and concessional financing through multilateral development banks should also be expanded.
Imran Khan called for general allocation of Special Drawing Rights of US$ 500 billion to help alleviate balance-of-payment pressures. He also stressed on the world community to take measures for the return of stolen assets held by corrupt politicians and criminals.
The prime minister said that the Developed Countries should meet the agreed target of mobilizing US$ 100 billion annually for climate action in Developing Countries.
Counting on Pakistan’s measures to combat COVID-19, the prime minister said that our efforts have been aimed at ensuring that we save people from dying from the virus, and at the same time preventing them from dying from hunger.
The prime minister said that our strategy fortunately has worked well so far but continuous efforts are needed to fully overcome the second wave of the virus.
