ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The government of Pakistan has pledged US$ 3 million towards the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Fund to support regional efforts in the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that while communicating Pakistan’s decision to the SAARC Secretariat, it has been conveyed that all proceeds of the Fund should be administered by the SAARC Secretariat and that the modalities for the Fund’s utilization should be finalized through consultations with the Member States as per the SAARC Charter.
The Spokesperson said that Pakistan’s perspective in this regard was also conveyed during a telephone conversation between the Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and the Secretary General SAARC Esala Ruwan Weerakoon today.
Aisha Farooqui said that being a founding member, Pakistan considers South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) an important platform for regional cooperation.
“Pakistan remains committed to the SAARC process and will continue working with the Member States to strengthen regional cooperation,” she said.