Islamabad: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said the anti-coronavirus vaccine, which pharmaceutical companies from several nations are attempting to make against the disease, must be declared as a ” global public good” and provided to everyone on the basis of equality.
Speaking at a video conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation: Combating COVID-19 with Solidarity, hosted by China, Qureshi said the coronavirus pandemic has hit hard the economy, businesses and supply chains across the world.
The COVID-19 vaccine, as and when it is developed, must be declared a global public good’ and made available on an equitable basis, Qureshi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO).
Coronavirus has so far claimed the lives of 454,215 people and infected 8,491,673 across the world.
In Pakistan, the situation was getting intense as the nation’s death toll due to the deadly virus reached 3,229 while the total number of infections jumped to 1,65,062, the health ministry said on Friday.
Qureshi said besides causing deaths the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world and led to economic slowdown, bankruptcies, financial fissures, job-losses and disruption in global supply-chains.
Highlighting the dangers the pandemic has posed to social and political stability, Qureshi said it was time for the world community to demonstrate unity, solidarity, and multilateral cooperation to fight this pandemic.
Qureshi underlined that Pakistan was resolutely confronting the outbreak of COVID-19 and taking all possible measures to strengthen the existing health system. (PTI)
