Pakistan has pledged to contribute $3 million to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) COVID-19 Emergency Fund to support regional efforts in the fight against the global pandemic.
“While communicating Pakistan’s decision to the SAARC Secretariat, it has been conveyed that all proceeds of the fund should be administered by the SAARC Secretariat and that the modalities for the fund’s utilisation should be finalised through consultations with the member states as per the SAARC Charter,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday.
The development comes a day after Pakistan boycotted the virtual conference of trade officials from SAARC countries, saying such meetings could only be effective if spearheaded by the group’s secretariat instead of India.
The official communique also said that Pakistan’s perspective about the contribution was also conveyed during a telephone conversation between Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and Secretary General Saarc Esala Ruwan Weerakoon earlier in the day.
“Being a founding member, Pakistan considers SAARC an important platform for regional cooperation. Pakistan remains committed to the SAARC process and will continue working with the member states to strengthen regional cooperation.”
