-Addresses high-level UN event via video link
-Recommends concerted global efforts against COVID-19
-Urges countries to look after poor segments of society
-Highlights Pakistan’s efforts to curb Coronavirus
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan participated in and addressed a high-level video conference themed ‘Financing for Development in COVID-19 Era and Beyond’ on Thursday via video link hosted by the Canadian and Jamaican PMs and the United Nations General Secretary.
Addressing the participants of the high-level United Nations event, PM Imran Khan said that a concerted global effort was required to defeat and endure the global pandemic of coronavirus.
The premier discussed debt vulnerability of developing countries which is one of the six interlinked financial issues being discussed at the event.
Making note of how the economy at home had suffered since the pandemic struck, PM Imran Khan said: “The poor segments of the society have been worst affected. The government launched various programmes to provide relief to them.”
He stressed that the world will not recover from this recession if a major part of the world’s population is wallowing into poverty, he added that unlike western countries, nations in the developing world did not have the fiscal space to revive their economies and look after their underprivileged.
“The government had doled out $8 billion to stimulate the economy and provide cash to the most vulnerable sections of society, but the country’s falling exports and remittances are adding to the pressure,” he mentioned.
The package was meager in comparison with huge stimulus packages given by USA, Germany, Japan, UK and other developed countries to their populations said the premier.
He also said that the money that was to be spent on climate change and development programmes was diverted towards corona pandemic. He also added that in his discussions with leadership of Ethiopia, Nigeria and Egypt he found out that all of them were also facing similar difficulties. “I welcome the G20 initiative of providing debt relief to various developing countries in these tough times, but the help to the developing world has to be much bigger than it has been envisaged, there is need for a global solution,” Prime Minister Imran Khan concluded.
The Presidents of France, SouthAfrica, Kazakhstan and the Prime Ministers of UK, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Japan, the German Chancellor and the Crown Prince of SaudiArabia will also address the high-event.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday directed to ensure transparent and impartial investigations into Karachi plane crash that killed 97 passengers and crew members. Presiding over a high-level meeting in Islamabad to review the latest developments in the investigation of the PIA plane crash, PM Imran ordered to make public all reports on fatal plane crashes happened in past.
PIA, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials and federal ministers attended the meeting. The authorities briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan on the PIA plane that crashed in Karachi’s Model Colony on May 22.
The prime minister was also briefed about facilities provided to the injured and heirs of the victims. During the meeting, PM Khan also ordered to public Junaid Jamshed plane crash report and directed officials to complete the PK-8303 plane crash investigation soon.
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed deep sorrow and regret over the precious lives that were lost on the Karachi bound plane. He assured justice to the affected families and directed authorities to inform the public about every single fact, details into the PIA plane crash.Addressing media after the meeting, Federal Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that government had announced Rs1 million compensation for the families of those who were killed in the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash
He said that 12 plane crash incidents have happened till yet since the creation of Pakistan, adding that all investigation reports on the plane crash will be made public and to be present before parliament. “Government will present the initial investigation report of PIA plane crash before parliament on June 22,” said the minister. The aircraft with 99 passengers and crew members onboard had crashed while trying to make an emergency landing at Karachi airport. Only two people survived the tragic incident
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan has chaired an important meeting to review the latest developments in the investigation of the PIA plane crash. PIA, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials and federal ministers attended the meeting. The authorities briefed Prime Minister Imran Khan on the PIA plane that crashed in Karachi’s Model Colony on May 22. The prime minister was briefed about facilities provided to the injured and heirs of the victims. Sources said the probe team will present the initial investigation report of PK-8303 to Prime Minister Imran Khan during the meeting.
Meanwhile, Airbus experts continued to examine and collect evidence from the PK-8303 crash site for the third consecutive day on Thursday. Source relayed the investigators are using modern technical equipment to probe the crash of the A320 aircraft on May 22 in a residential area of Model Colony. The probe team has expanded the search area for the missing cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the ill-fated plane as the buildings affected by the PK-8303 crash are being scoured for the purpose. PIA engineering, technical ground support and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Security and Vigilance teams were also present at the site. The aircraft with 99 passengers and crew members onboard had crashed while trying to make an emergency landing at Karachi airport. Only two people survived the tragic incident.
Moreover, Prime Minister will chair an important meeting over the locust eradication and Covid-19 situation in the country yesterday. Federal ministers, representatives from the provincial government will brief PM Imran over the locust attacks and coronavirus situation. Sources said the National Command and Control Centre (NCC) will brief the meeting about the figures of the coronavirus cases. The authorities will also brief the prime minister about the locust threat in different parts of the country. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and PDMA will inform the meeting about the locust eradication, while the committee formed for the eradication of locust will present recommendations in the meeting.
Earlier on May 20, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal said nine special aircraft will be ready by Monday to spray locust-infested areas with insecticides.
Speaking to media, he said collective efforts are afoot to eradicate the menace of locust attacks. The NDMA chief said three lac litres of Malathion insecticide have been procured from China for conducting spray in the affected areas. Five helicopters are ready to spray the locust-infested areas, he added. He said a PAF C-130 plane had also brought a special jet from Turkey for the purpose.
