PM Imran appeals debt relief for developing countries amid coronavirus pandemic
Last updated on: 13 April,2020 11:55 am
PM Imran said that developing countries lack resources to fight hunger and disease
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – As the challenge posed by coronavirus is unprecedented, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday appealed to the international community and world institutions to launch an initiative to give debt relief to developing countries.
Addressing the international community on Sunday, he said that the developing countries do not have the resources, the money to fight hunger and disease and appealed the developed world and the United Nations, to help developing countries in coping with the challenge of coronavirus.
Imran Khan cautioned that the pandemic s socio-economic impacts would be more consequential in the developing countries.
“While the developing countries are facing the dilemma of stopping people from getting infected by virus, and people dying of hunger due to lockdown measures,” Imran Khan said.
“There is huge gap in resources available to developed and developing countries,” PM Imran said and added many developed countries have allocated huge stimulus packages in the wake of coronavirus.
He said: “USA allocated 2.2 trillion dollars, while Germany is spending one trillion dollars and Japan is also allocating the same amount for its people, adding that Pakistan despite its limited resources and population of over 210 million earmarked $8 billion in the stimulus package.”
He proposed that the developing countries be provided with fiscal space and financial relief through enhanced debt relief and restructuring and other additional measures that could help them manage the unfolding crisis.
The prime minister said that two responses are being seen in developed and developing world, adding that in developed countries, it is focused on containing the virus and dealing with economic impact.
PM Imran urged the world leaders and institutions to devise a plan and strategy to come out of this situation. He
He stressed that a global pandemic cannot be contained without strong, coordinated and well-crafted global response. He invited the UN Secretary General to work with him in advancing the objectives of a coordinated response.