Daily Times

Imran Khan’s initiatives to deal with COVID-19 are being appreciated by everyone. Even countries like US with much better health care system are seeking Pakistan’s guidance in providing essential goods to the poor. Due to kindheartedness of PM Imran Khan and trust of people, donations are pouring in Ehsaas Programme though telethons arranged by PM for this noble cause to provide assistance to the needy and poor across the country.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had last month launched the relief fund to fight coronavirus and had urged everyone to donate generously to the initiative. Labeling it an unprecedented initiative and recalling people’s charitable spirits, the prime minister said that Pakistanis donate like no other nation in the world, while recalling earthquakes and floods which had wreaked much damage in the country but put no dent in people’s willingness to help.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has also appealed to the overseas Pakistanis to donate generously to the PM Relief Fund for Covid-19 to cope with the crisis. Giving an example of the United States, he said the US has a population of 300 million people and has allocated $2.2 trillion, while Germany and France, with a population of less than Pakistan, have earmarked $1 trillion each to provide relief to their people. Pakistan could only manage $8 billion for the relief fund and in such a situation; we want overseas Pakistanis to donate generously.

The prime minister very timely launched an appeal to the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the international financial institutions to respond positively to the dilemma confronting the developing counties in the face of Covid-19 outbreak. The IMF has agreed to give Pakistan a huge relief in the shape of $1.4 billion for coronavirus crisis management besides re-scheduling of the loans Pakistan had earlier acquired from the international lender.

The government has announced to contribute Rupees 4 for every rupee donated to the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Prime Minister Imran Khan has also assured the contributors that their donations will be transparently disbursed amongst the deserving families affected by coronavirus, and that he is personally monitoring the relief fund and its details will be shared with the public after audit.

In a televised message, the prime minister urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the international financial institutions to respond positively to the dilemma confronting the developing counties in the face of Covid-19. He said his global initiative on debt relief is aimed at bringing together stakeholders on a single platform to promote a coordinated health and economic response. Imran also cited United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ call last week for a global action. The prime minister invited the UN secretary general to work with him in advancing the objectives of the coordinated response. He also urged other world leaders to step up measures to help the developing countries overcome the disastrous impacts of Covid-19.

In the developed world, the dilemma is coronavirus and economy. But we as a developing nation face another major dilemma, how to prevent people from dying of hunger,” he said. “I implore those who walk in the corridors of power to make a stimulus package for the developing world to help them through this economic recession. The proposed global initiative aims to lay ground for urgent debt relief for the developing countries, at their request, and without any conditionality. The proposal is built on the prime minister’s belief that enhanced fiscal capacity is fundamental to recovery from the ongoing crises.

In the past week, various announcements were made by multilateral actors such as the UN, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank. These announcements included initial relief packages of $1.4 billion by the IMF and $1 billion by the World Bank. He proposed that the developing countries should be provided with fiscal space and financial relief through enhanced debt relief and restructuring as well as other additional measures that could help them manage the crisis.

As part of his diplomatic outreach, Imran said he would be approaching leaders of a wide range of countries, notably the Paris Club, heads of international organizations and others concerned to join him in this endeavor. Meanwhile, the prime minister entrusted Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and the Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to reach out to their counterparts around the world to work for the “global initiative on debt relief”. The government’s economic stimulus package particularly focused on deferment of loans, new borrowings at reduced rates and cash transfer via tax refunds as well as Ehsaas Cash Transfer Programme for the demoralized citizens. Due to mismanagement and corruption made by previous governemnt; there was a trust deficit with the Government but due to current reforms and effective management of economy during pandemic, Imran Khan government has regained the trust of people of Pakistan inland and abroad.