Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has emphasised the need for urgent economic relief for poor countries dealing with this century’s “gravest challenge to humanity”.
Talking to Japanese Foreign Minister Toshi-mitsu Motegi over phone, as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, Qureshi attempted to promote Prime Minister Imran Khan’s global initiative on debt relief for mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economies of poor countries.
Japan is providing $7.41 million in assistance to Pakistan through an international organisation for technical support and procurement of medical supplies and equipment.
He thanked Japan for its assistance to Pakistan to combat the pandemic as well as in dealing with the desert locust attack, the FO said.
Pakistan is planning to convene a meeting at the United Nations of the countries interested in the initiative to generate support for a comprehensive solution of the debt problem of the poor countries.
Foreign Office statement said the two ministers exchanged views about the socio-economic ramifications of the pandemic. Mr Qureshi apprised Mr Motegi about PM Khan’s initiative.
