ISLAMABAD, Mar 22 (DNA): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi
held a telephone conversation with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Minister
for Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena Sunday.

According to a Foreign Office statement Sunday, the two Foreign
Ministers had detailed exchange of views on the situation arising from
Covid-19 outbreak and ways to enhance cooperation to combat the threat
posed by the rapid spread of the pandemic. Challenges faced by regional
States and the need for joint efforts came under review.

Reaffirming abiding commitment to the SAARC process, Foreign Minister
Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to host the SAARC Health
Ministers’ Conference to enhance cooperation among member countries and
development partners in the health sector, with particular focus on
Covid-19. He also proposed that a video conference could be organised
first in view of the prevailing global health emergency.

Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored that SAARC provided an important
platform for regional cooperation. There was a need to revitalise this
key Organization to tackle common challenges.

In the context of effective efforts to combat the global pandemic, the
Foreign Minister noted that Pakistan has proposed that sanctions on Iran
be lifted so that humanitarian relief can be provided at this time of
crisis to save precious human lives.

Foreign Minister Qureshi further noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan
has proposed that developed countries may facilitate developing
countries to meet the challenge through debt restructuring so that they
can use limited resources to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on
their economies and provide effective relief to poor people.

The two Ministers agreed to work closely to promote collaborative
endeavours for regional benefit. DNA