Imran Khan, Donald Trump discuss COVID-19 situation on phone

[Pakistani Fighter]

PM, US President discuss COVID-19 situation on phone

April 22, 2020

Prime Minister Imran Khan and US President Donald Trump in a telephonic conversation on Wednesday discussed COVID-19 pandemic related challenges, its implications on global economy, and ways to mitigate its impact.

They also exchanged views on regional issues and further strengthening of Pakistan-U.S. cooperation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan conveyed sympathies and condolences on the loss of so many precious lives in the U.S. due to coronavirus.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also highlighted Pakistan's efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

He emphasized that Pakistan was facing a dual challenge of overcoming the pandemic and saving people, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the population, from hunger due to lockdown. He underlined that the government had put together a 8 billion dollar package to support the affected people and businesses.

While thanking President Trump for the U.S. support in the IMF and other fora, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that it would provide necessary fiscal space to Pakistan and help in mitigating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister's call for "Global Initiative on Debt Relief" for the developing countries is in the same context.

In the regional context, Prime Minister Imran Khan highlighted Pakistan's steadfast support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and the importance of political settlement. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan's support for facilitation of the Afghan peace process and underscored the importance of next steps leading to the earliest commencement of Intra-Afghan negotiations.

President Trump appreciated Prime Minister's telephone call and expression of support for the U.S. efforts to combat COVID-19. He also reassured of U.S. support to Pakistan in the efforts to combat COVID-19 including by making available ventilators as well as in the economic arena. Having learned about testing of Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Trump offered to send the latest rapid testing machine for COVID-19 to the Prime Minister.

Kiani/Karrar

 

[Asian.Century]

So President Trump also got to know of PM Imran Khan Cornavirus test, and Trump sending rapid testing, Very welcome from USA.

 

[ghazi52]

Trump assures Pakistan of support during Covid-19 crisis, says will provide 'ventilators and economic help'

April 22, 2020

In this file photo US President Donald Trump (R) and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan (L) hold a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, September 23, 2019. — AFP/ File


United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday assured Pakistan of support during the coronavirus crisis and said that the US would provide "ventilators and economic help".

Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Trump in a telephone conversation discussed challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, its effect on the global economy and ways to mitigate its impact, according to an official statement from the Prime Minister House.

The call was an extension of the premier's diplomatic outreach efforts related to his Global Debt Relief Initiative. The initiative aims to bring together leaders from different countries "notably from the Paris Club, Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and heads of international organisations" to push for a more coordinated response to the pandemic.

Based on the premier's belief that "enhanced fiscal capacity is fundamental to recovery from the ongoing pandemic", the initiative seeks to lay the ground for urgent debt relief for developing countries without "onerous conditionalities".

The premier thanked the US president for American support in international forums, particularly the International Monetary Fund.

The US president offered to send a rapid testing machine for Covid-19 to the prime minister after learning that he would get tested for the virus.

During the telephone call, the premier conveyed "his condolences to President Trump on the loss of so many precious lives" in the US because of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Imran also informed the US president of Pakistan's efforts to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, emphasising that the country was "facing a dual challenge" — to control the spread of the virus and to protect people, particularly the weakest sector of society from dying of hunger amid the lockdown.

He added that the government had recently introduced an $8 billion package to support those affected by the pandemic.

The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan's support for "facilitation of the Afghan peace process and underscored the importance of next steps leading to the earliest commencement of Intra-Afghan negotiations," the statement added.