PM Imran Khan has called upon the vaccine producing countries to expedite COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution.
In his virtual address at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, PM Imran Khan called for universal and affordable access to anti-covid vaccine to defeat the virus and revive global trade, investment and growth and urged the world to boost vaccine production, including in the developing countries, and ensure its rapid distribution.
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PM Imran Khan said as the pandemic revealed the interdependence of nations, a joint action is essential to fight its triple challenge through vaccine supply, reallocation of IMF quotas by high-income states and adaptation of climate finance.
The global economy will not recover fully until all countries are enabled to accelerate and expand investment for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and climate goals, he added.
The Prime Minister noted that Pakistan remained fortunate compared with other countries, as the government through its policy of ‘smart lockdown’ and focus on the disadvantaged, had been able to somehow contain the covid-19 virus.
The premier also stressed the need to focus on peaceful and just resolution of disputes and promoting international cooperation for building a more equitable, stable and prosperous world.
PM Imran Khan appreciated the international recognition of Pakistan’s pandemic containment strategy and the Ehsaas social protection programme.
“We are now making all possible efforts to accelerate our vaccination campaign,” he said.
The premier said that unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had “revealed and accentuated the endemic inequalities which exist within and amongst nations”.
“The global economy will not recover fully until all countries — rich and poor — are enabled to accelerate and expand investment for achieving the SDGs (sustainable development goals) and climate goals,” he continued.
The premier said that he believes the following actions, at the national and international level, are “indispensable to respond effectively to the triple crisis”.
PM Imran Khan proposed following propositions for urgent supply and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine;
- The waiver of intellectual property rights, even if temporary
- Vaccine production under license
- Full funding of the COVAX facility
- Provision of grants and concessional lending to enable developing countries to purchase vaccines at fair prices.
Separately, expressing his views on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), PM Imran Khan highlighted that mobilization of adequate finance is necessary in order to to enable the developing countries to meet the triple challenge of COVID recovery, SDG implementation and realization of environmental goals.
Welcoming the agreement to create U$ 650 billion in new SDRs, PM Imran Khan said that the additional reserves created for the poorest countries will not provide anywhere close to the magnitude of financial relief they require.
The prime minister said that national and international development strategies should target sectors that enable developing countries to respond to the following;
- COVID recovery
- Human development
- Social protection
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable agriculture
- Climate change
- Digitalization
Concluding his virtual address, PM Imran Khan stressed upon the need to focus on peaceful and just resolution of disputes and promote international cooperation for building a more equitable, stable and prosperous world.
