ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The IMF Resident Representative in Pakistan Teresa Daban Sanchez met the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad on Thursday, and held a discussion focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.
While acknowledging the important role of the IMF, the foreign minister exchanged views with its Resident Representative in Pakistan on the measures being taken by Pakistan to contain the pathogen and address the associated socio-economic challenges.
Referring to the enormous challenges posed by COVID-19, the foreign minister highlighted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s appeal for a “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” for Developing Countries to enable them fiscal space to combat the disease, save precious lives, and shore up economies.
The foreign minister welcomed announcements by the G-20, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and others on debt service suspension initiative for debt stressed Countries.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi underscored that any initiative for supporting the developing countries to combat COVID-19 ramifications should be inclusive and without onerous conditionalities.
وزیر خارجہ سے آئی ایم ایف کی پاکستان میں نمائندہ مس ٹریسا ڈبن ساشیز کی ملاقات
کورونا عالمی وبائی چیلنج کی موجودہ صورتحال پر تفصیلی تبادلہ خیال
پاکستان نے کورونا وبا ءکی روک تھام کیلئے مؤثر اقدامات کئے ہیں:وزیر خارجہ@SMQureshiPTI pic.twitter.com/uu7Dg7dm0e— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) April 16, 2020
This meeting was in the further follow-up of the prime minister’s initiative and Pakistan’s efforts to bring together important stakeholders on a platform to promote coordinated health and economic response.
It was agreed to continue to closely engage on COVID-19 and on other matters of mutual interest.
