United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President-elect Volkan Bozkir has termed the Pakistan’s Covid-19 response a “good example” for the world to follow.
Addressing a news conference on Monday alongside Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Bozkir expressed his condolences over the deaths of Pakistanis from the novel coronavirus and wished those who are currently infected a swift recovery.
“Pakistan set a good example for world,” says WHO
“Pakistan has been a good example for the world with its pandemic-related policies. The figures show that Pakistan has done better than other countries in the world and I am happy to observe it with my own eyes,” said the president-elect who arrived in Islamabad earlier in the day on a two-day official visit.
Pakistan coronavirus recovery rate on Sunday surpassed 91% with official data showing that 260,248 patients have recovered from the disease so far against the total number of 284,121 cases confirmed since the outbreak.
Read more: European Union lauds Pakistan’s successful fight against COVID-19
The federal government has decided to allow the reopening of restaurants, cinemas, beauty parlours, gyms and other businesses from Monday – almost five months after they were closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic — in the wake of the decline in Covid-19 cases and fatalities.
World acknowledging PM Khan’s COVID-19 response
The world is widely acknowledging Prime Minister Imran Khan’s smart lockdown strategy, mainly focusing balance between lives and livelihood, as the country has witnessed a steep decline in the virus cases.
Asian World News UK, names Prime Minister of Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI as the ‘Top Politician’ among a list of 10 world leaders, for his efforts in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. @AsianWorldNews
10 Politicians during the Covid-19 pandemic https://t.co/11Br15haPf
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) September 10, 2020
In a study, the Imperial College of London has ranked Pakistan at fourth for coronavirus reproduction in the country based on July 20 data. Pakistan has achieved 0.73 rate, keeping in view the countries getting below 1 rating are considered the best for their anti-Covid-19 response.
Bozkir links Kashmir with peace of South-Asian region
Expressing his strong support for the longstanding dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Bozkir linked it with peace and stability of the South Asian region.
“The Jammu and Kashmir dispute needs to be settled through peaceful means,” the visiting UNGA dignitary said.
The “meaningful engagement of political and diplomatic channels” is significant to resolve the issue in accordance with the resolutions of UN Security Council, he added.
“The prime minister highlighted the dire rights and humanitarian situation in occupied Kashmir since August 5, 2019, as well as the ongoing gross and systematic violations of human rights and attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory,” Dawn reported.
Read more: COVID-19: US improves travel advisory for Pakistan, keeps India on ‘do not travel’ list
Despite the prodding from Qureshi and Imran, Bozkir shied away from offering to mediate without a nod from India.
In his news conference along with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Bozkir said that the resolution of the Kashmir issue was vital for sustainable peace in South Asia, and offered that he can help as per his mandate. “If my assistance is requested by the parties, I will be ready to provide contributions within my mandate,” he said.
Bozkir, the first Turkish national to hold this position for 75th UNGA session, said Turkey’s position on Jammu and Kashmir is well-known and its foreign ministry had issued a strong statement over India’s action of August 5, 2019.
Speaking on the occasion, FM Qureshi said that during his meeting with the UNGA president-elect, he briefed him about the evolving situation of IIOJK facing military siege for the last one year, human rights violations, and illegal search and cordon operations.
GVS News Desk