Coming Together Of SAARC Leaders Will Benefit In Fight Against Coronavirus: Modi

PM Modi reached the SAARC Leaders to chalk out a strategy to counter the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Within hours of PM Modi's invite, leaders of Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives welcomed the move

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday the coming together of SAARC leaders will lead to effective outcomes and benefit citizens in the fight against coronavirus. PM Modi will be speaking to the leaders of SAARC nation on Sunday at 5 pm via video conferencing. The Indian prime minister reached the eight-member regional grouping to chalk out a strategy to counter the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Within hours of PM Modi's invite, leaders of Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives welcomed the move. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said it is a timely action for a healthier planet. "Tomorrow at 5 pm, leaders of SAARC nations will discuss, via conferencing, a roadmap to fight the challenge of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus," Modi wrote on Twitter.

Timely action for a healthier planet. Tomorrow at 5 PM, leaders of SAARC nations will discuss, via conferencing, a roadmap to fight the challenge of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. I am confident that our coming together will lead to effective outcomes and benefit our citizens.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2020

"I am confident that our coming together will lead to effective outcomes and benefit our citizens," he said. Calling on the SAARC nations to set an example for the world, Modi had pitched for a video conference among its leaders to discuss about the strategy fight coronavirus, which has killed nearly 5,000 people globally. Pakistan's response to the proposal came late in the night with the country's Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui saying the threat of COVID-19 required coordinated efforts at global and regional levels. "We have communicated that SAPM (Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister) on Health (Zafar Mirza) will be available to participate in the video conference of SAARC member countries on the issue," she said. (With PTI Inputs)