Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with Secretary General Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Vladimir Norov on Monday and exchanged views on adopting an effective strategy to face the global challenge of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister appraised the SCO Secretary General about steps taken by Pakistan to prevent spread of the coronavirus. He emphasized on evolving a common approach from SCO platform to prevent spread of the virus.

He said Pakistan is looking forward for a video conference of the health ministers of South Asian Association of Regional Countries so that member nations can benefit from the experiences of one another.

The Foreign Minister also briefed Vladimir Norov about Pakistan's proposal regarding restructuring of loans to support developing countries' economies. He expressed the hope that SCO will play its pivotal role in forwarding Pakistan's suggestion of restructuring loans.

While appreciating Prime Minister Imran Khan's proposal of restructuring loans of developing economies, the SCO General Secretary said it is need of the hour to extend financial cooperation to developing countries. He also assured that SCO will take all possible measures to prevent spread of the Coronavirus.

Akram/Asmaa