UN chief supports PM Imran’s call for global initiative for debt relief

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has supported Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s call for a Global Initiative for debt relief to developing countries. At a regular virtual press briefing in New York, the UN Secretary General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Imran Khan’s initiative is in the same spirit as the secretary-general’s own position. The spokesperson said the UN chief believes that debt relief must be an important part of the response to coronavirus, including immediate waiver on interest payments for the current year. The spokesman said it is important that the limited resources of the world’s poorest countries be used to combat COVID-19 virus. Earlier, PM Imran Khan has called for a “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” in wake of coronavirus pandemic. In a message broadcast to international community, the prime minister said COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented health and economic challenges. He expressed fear that global recession might be worse than the great depression. PM Khan stressed that a global pandemic cannot be contained without strong, coordinated and well-crafted global response. He invited the UN secretary general to work with him in advancing the objectives of a coordinated response. He cautioned that the pandemic’s socio-economic impacts would be more consequential in the developing countries. While proposing the Initiative, Imran Khan highlighted that his government has provided an 8 billion US dollars stimulus package to help the most vulnerable Pakistanis.