ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan was the keynote speaker at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development where he shared a five point agenda which could be used to solve the structural barriers to global prosperity.
PM Khan proposed an equitable supply of the COVID-19 vaccine and appealed for relaxation on debt repayments for poor countries, until the end of the pandemic.
The prime minister was speaking at the fourth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Financing for Development (FfD) in Geneva.
“The coverage of the COVAX facility must be expanded. This would enable the developing countries to spend their precious resources on socio-economic development needs,” he said.
“Moreover, the expansion of concessional financing through multilateral development banks is also essential,” stated the premier.
PM Imran proposed a general allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) worth 500 billion dollars to help alleviate financial pressures for poor countries. .
“Reportedly, a staggering amount of 7 trillion dollars is parked in ‘haven’ destinations. And it is also reported that one trillion dollars annually leave the developing countries for these ‘haven’ destinations,” PM Khan told the meeting also addressed by the prime minister of Barbados, vice president of Plurinational State of Bolivia, and second vice president of Government of Spain.
PM Khan also proposed that developed countries should meet a target of $100 billion for climate action in developed countries.
Previously, PM Khan gained global acclaim for his billion tree tsunami, a project that was praised by many international publications.
Prime Minister Imran Khan compared recessions to COVID-19, terming them “highly communicable”.
