ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with his Swiss Counterpart Ignazio Cassis to discuss matters related to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Expressing deep condolences over loss of precious lives in Switzerland, Qureshi commended the efforts made by the Swiss government to contain the pandemic.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi also appreciated projecting the Pakistan flag on Matterhorn Mountain a few days ago as a special gesture of solidarity.
Underscoring that a global recession was imminent and the pandemic had seriously impacted the developing world, the foreign minister highlighted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Global Initiative for Debt Relief.
The foreign minister highlighted the on-going restrictions in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K), which were hampering dissemination of information, and preventing unfettered supply of medicines and other essentials needed to combat COVID-19.
Qureshi also noted that the Hindutva-inspired BJP government in India was using the Pandemic to demonize India’s Muslim minority in the context of COVID-19, an attempt that should be rejected by the International Community.
The two foreign ministers agreed to stay closely engaged.