(Image source from: business-standard.com)
The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, the other leaders and representatives have been a part of the SAARC video conference which has been proposed by the PM Narendra Modi in order to tackle the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus which has been spreading at an alarming rate across the world.
This has been scheduled in order to chalk out the strategy for fighting the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus where in it has been said by PM Modi that the guiding mantra of India in dealing with the outbreak of the coronavirus is ‘prepare, but don’t panic.’
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in the SAARC video conference that although the country India has reported less than 150 confirmed cases for being infected by the deadly novel coronavirus, the country needs to remain vigilant.
The Prime Minister Modi has added saying that a step- by- step approach had helped in avoiding panic and special efforts have also been made in order to reach out to the vulnerable groups.
Narendra Modi has also proposed to the leaders of SAARC in creating an emergency fund for COVID-19 which would be basing on the voluntary contributions from all the SAARC countries while he had mentioned that the government of India had started screening the people who are entering India from the the mid of January and gradual increase in the restrictions on travel are also been made by the government of India.
Ashraf Ghani who is the President of Afghan has proposed a common framework for tele- medicine in order to combat the deadly novel coronavirus. The President Ashraf Ghani has also welcomed the initiatives which have been suggested by PM Modi and had called for the nations for keeping an eye on the situation that has been evolving due to coronavirus.
PM Narendra Modi has mentioned the evacuation of Indian nationals abroad as nearly 1,400 Indians from different countries have been evacuated by the government of India while he added saying that some citizens of the neighboring countries have also been evacuated by the Indian Government from the nations which have been hit by the deadly novel coronavirus.
Zafar Mizra who is the Special Assistant on Health to the Prime Minister of Pakistan has said that no nation can afford to be unresponsive in the situation of the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus.
Zafar Mirza had added saying that common regional concerns over the deadly novel coronavirus are being shared, “while hoping for the best, we have o prepare for worst.”
However, Pakistan has raised the issue of Kashmir during the SAARC video conference and has said that all the restriction in the Jammu and Kashmir has to be lifted in order to deal with the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus threat.
Ibrahim Sohil who is the President of Maldives has backed the coordinated approached to deal with the deadly novel COVID-19 and has said that no country would be able to deal with the situation alone.
The Maldivian President has also thanked PM Narendra Modi for the regional initiative for combating the Covid- 19 challenge and has also welcomed the suggestion made by PM Modi regarding the setting up of an emergency fund for Covid-19.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is the President of Sri Lanka has said that a mechanism for the economies to tide over the problems that have been posed by coronavirus should be formulated by the SAARC leaders.
"I propose setting up of SAARC ministerial-level group to deal with issues related to coronavirus," said the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
"Our collective efforts will help us devise a sound and robust strategy for SAARC region to fight coronavirus," said K P Sharma Oli who is the Prime Minister of Nepal.
"Important for all of us to be on same page to combat coronavirus," said the Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering.
"It is clear we have to work together; we can respond best to coronavirus by coming together, not growing apart," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the representative of SAARC.
By Shrithika Kushangi
