Egypt backs Pakistan’s debt relief initiative for developing countries

PM Imran, President Sisi discuss coronavirus pandemic over phone conversation

Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fatteh Sisi on Thursday and discussed issues arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to an official statement, the premier "fondly" recalled his earlier interaction with the Egyptian president on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Makkah and the UN General Assembly session in New York last year.

PM Imran conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the government and people of Egypt and commended their effective measures to control the spread of Covid-19.

"The wide-ranging discussion between the two leaders focused on their respective national approaches to managing Covid-19 and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call to launch a ‘Global Initiative on Debt Relief’ for developing countries," the communique said.



Premier Imran congratulated President Sisi for pursuing an effective national strategy against coronavirus and also highlighted the key elements of Pakistan’s approach aimed at saving lives from the scourge of the virus and protecting the most vulnerable segments of population from acute economic distress.

On the issue of debt, the prime minister underscored that more measures are needed to reboot the developing countries' economies besides debt relief which "will help free up resources to manage this unprecedented global health and economic crisis".

"President Sisi expressed support for the Prime Minister’s Debt Relief Initiative," according to the statement.

The prime minister stressed the importance of working together to evolve a comprehensive plan to turn the crisis generated by global pandemic into an opportunity for economic regeneration.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further solidify the close fraternal ties between Islamabad and Cairo, the official communique said. "Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated his invitation to President Sisi to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience."