Covid-19 cannot be defeated without global approach: PM
Premier addresses a virtual United Nations High-Level event on Financing for Development in Era of Covid-19
Premier addresses a virtual United Nations High-Level event on Financing for Development in Era of Covid-19. SCREENGARB
Prime Minister Imran Khan has thanked the G20 countries for providing debt relief to the developing countries dealing with crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I really welcome the debt relief initiative by G20 countries but we cannot come out of this crisis unless we look at this issue from global perspective," said the premier on Thursday while addressing a virtual United Nations High-Level event on Financing for Development (FFD) in Era of Covid-19 and Beyond.
The event was hosted by Secretary General of United Nations António Guterres and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Jamaica Andrew Holness.
PM Imran said providing relief to the vulnerable segment of the society was the most difficult task when the virus hit the country. "But despite all challenges, we manage to give $8 billion stimulus package which is the biggest in the country's history."
PM Imran urges G-20 to 'do more' in debt relief amid Covid-19 pandemic
However, he acknowledged that the relief package was not enough particularly in comparison to the trillion dollar packages announced by the developed countries.
"We doled out biggest ever cash emergency programme for daily wage earners and diverted all our resources to deal with the Covid-19 crisis."
He also expressed the hope that the world would over this challenge successfully.
Following the Covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan, PM Imran was the first developing world leader who called upon the developed countries to provide debt relief to enable the developing countries to cope with the challenges of economic difficulties and the overwhelmed healthcare system.
Speaking at the Covid Action Platform of the World Economic Forum (WEF) via a video link earlier this month, Premier Imran had said the debt relief was necessary as the developing countries needed fiscal space to divert their resources to the healthcare system, besides mitigating the economic effects of the lockdown.
"I really welcome the debt relief initiative by G20 countries but we cannot come out of this crisis unless we look at this issue from global perspective," said the premier on Thursday while addressing a virtual United Nations High-Level event on Financing for Development (FFD) in Era of Covid-19 and Beyond.
The event was hosted by Secretary General of United Nations António Guterres and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Jamaica Andrew Holness.
PM Imran said providing relief to the vulnerable segment of the society was the most difficult task when the virus hit the country. "But despite all challenges, we manage to give $8 billion stimulus package which is the biggest in the country's history."
PM Imran urges G-20 to 'do more' in debt relief amid Covid-19 pandemic
However, he acknowledged that the relief package was not enough particularly in comparison to the trillion dollar packages announced by the developed countries.
"We doled out biggest ever cash emergency programme for daily wage earners and diverted all our resources to deal with the Covid-19 crisis."
He also expressed the hope that the world would over this challenge successfully.
Following the Covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan, PM Imran was the first developing world leader who called upon the developed countries to provide debt relief to enable the developing countries to cope with the challenges of economic difficulties and the overwhelmed healthcare system.
Speaking at the Covid Action Platform of the World Economic Forum (WEF) via a video link earlier this month, Premier Imran had said the debt relief was necessary as the developing countries needed fiscal space to divert their resources to the healthcare system, besides mitigating the economic effects of the lockdown.