Pak joins SAARC Covid fund, pledges $3 million

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 9

After sitting out the video conferencing of SAARC trade officials on Wednesday, Pakistan reversed course to pledge $ 3 million towards the SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund to support regional efforts in the fight against the pandemic.

With Pakistan’s contribution, the total corpus of the fund now stands at $ 21. 5 million. India has announced a contribution of $ 10 million, Afghanistan and Nepal $ 1 million each, Bangladesh $ 1.5 million, Bhutan $ 1 lakh, Maldives $ 2 lakhs and Sri Lanka $ 5 million.

While communicating Pakistan’s decision to the SAARC Secretariat, Islamabad said it wanted all proceeds of the fund to be administered by the SAARC Secretariat and that the modalities for the Fund’s utilisation should be finalised through consultations with all SAARC members. Pakistan had cited a similar reason for not turning up at the SAARC video conference of trade ministers.

Pakistan conveyed its intention to pool regional efforts during a telephone conversation between Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and Secretary General SAARC Esala Ruwan Weerakoon. Mahmood, former High Commissioner to India, also reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to the SAARC process and will continue working with the Member States to strengthen regional cooperation.

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