Following India's steps, Pakistan convened a video conference of health ministers from the SAARC countries. Dr. Rajiv Garg, Director General of Health Services, represented the Government of India. The meeting was intended to be a ministerial-level interaction but most member states chose to send ministers instead.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Pakistan convenes SAARC Health Ministers' meet

<p>Pakistan did not participate at the SAARC commerce ministry officials meet that took place via video conference on Wednesday. Sources in Islamabad said they did not participate due to no participation by the SAARC secretariat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last month Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a SAARC meet via video conference at heads of government/states level for a regional coordinated policy on COVID-19. All countries had participated at heads of government/state level in barring Pakistan which had sent a junior level advisor for the meet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India had proposed an emergency COVID-19 fund in which all countries barring Pakistan have announced contribution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the heads of the level meet, SAARC countries' health ministry officials had also met via video conference.</p>

<p>During the meet, the Indian side had proposed a shared electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices for jointly combating the coronavirus epidemic.</p>

<p>The commerce ministry officials meet was the third&nbsp;such video conference meet between the SAARC countries in last one month on COVID crisis.</p>


Pakistan did not participate at the SAARC commerce ministry officials meet that took place via video conference on Wednesday. Sources in Islamabad said they did not participate due to no participation by the SAARC secretariat.

Pakistan did not participate at the SAARC commerce ministry officials meet that took place via video conference on Wednesday. Sources in Islamabad said they did not participate due to no participation by the SAARC secretariat. Last month Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a SAARC meet via video conference at heads of government/states level for a regional coordinated policy on COVID-19. All countries had participated at heads of government/state level in barring Pakistan which had sent a junior level advisor for the meet. India had proposed an emergency COVID-19 fund in which all countries barring Pakistan have announced contribution. After the heads of the level meet, SAARC countries' health ministry officials had also met via video conference. During the meet, the Indian side had proposed a shared electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices for jointly combating the coronavirus epidemic. The commerce ministry officials meet was the third such video conference meet between the SAARC countries in last one month on COVID crisis.

No Pakistan participation in SAARC commerce ministry meet

<p>Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conducting the "fruitful and constructive" video conference with leaders of the SAARC nations and promised his country`s "fullest support" to combat the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wise-initiative-by-pm-modi-to-call-saarc-conference-on-coronavirus-outbreak-nepal-286778">Wise initiative by PM Modi to call SAARC conference on coronavirus outbreak: Nepal</a></strong></p>

<p>"I thank PM @narendramodi for his initiative to combat #COVID19 with cooperation among #SAARCNations.The discussion was fruitful and constructive with many great ideas being shared and initiated. #LKA will extend the fullest support and thank the member nations for their solidarity," Rajapaksa tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I thank PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> for his initiative to combat <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID%E3%83%BC19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVIDー19</a> with cooperation among <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAARCNations?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAARCNations</a>.The discussion was fruitful and constructive with many great ideas being shared and initiated. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LKA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LKA</a> will extend fullest support and thank the member nations for their solidarity</p>
— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) <a href="https://twitter.com/GotabayaR/status/1239363147271565313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Participants from all eight SAARC nations India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Bhutan held a video conference to exchange their views and share experiences in fighting the pandemic that has killed more than 6000 people globally.</p>

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<p>The conference witnessed Prime Minister Modi proposing the creation of a COVID-19 emergency fund based on voluntary contributions from all the countries, with India making an initial offer of USD 10 million for the fund.</p>

<p>During the conference, Rajapaksa had recommended that SAARC leaders work together to help the economy tide over the difficult period.</p>

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<p>"He (Rajapaksa) also recommended the establishment of a SAARC ministerial-level group to share best practices and coordinate regional matters on combating COVID-19," as per a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.</p>


Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conducting the "fruitful and constructive" video conference with leaders of the SAARC nations and promised his country`s "fullest support" to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conducting the "fruitful and constructive" video conference with leaders of the SAARC nations and promised his country`s "fullest support" to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Wise initiative by PM Modi to call SAARC conference on coronavirus outbreak: Nepal "I thank PM @narendramodi for his initiative to combat #COVID19 with cooperation among #SAARCNations.The discussion was fruitful and constructive with many great ideas being shared and initiated. #LKA will extend the fullest support and thank the member nations for their solidarity," Rajapaksa tweeted. I thank PM @narendramodi for his initiative to combat #COVIDー19 with cooperation among #SAARCNations.The discussion was fruitful and constructive with many great ideas being shared and initiated. #LKA will extend fullest support and thank the member nations for their solidarity — Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) March 16, 2020 × Participants from all eight SAARC nations India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Bhutan held a video conference to exchange their views and share experiences in fighting the pandemic that has killed more than 6000 people globally. × The conference witnessed Prime Minister Modi proposing the creation of a COVID-19 emergency fund based on voluntary contributions from all the countries, with India making an initial offer of USD 10 million for the fund. During the conference, Rajapaksa had recommended that SAARC leaders work together to help the economy tide over the difficult period. × "He (Rajapaksa) also recommended the establishment of a SAARC ministerial-level group to share best practices and coordinate regional matters on combating COVID-19," as per a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Sri Lankan president thanks PM Modi for SAARC conference; promises Colombo's support to combat COVID-19

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a joint G20 strategy to fight Coronavirus after finalizing time-schedule for SAARC nations video conference. This was confirmed by Australian PM Scott Morrison at a press conference.

World leaders laud PM Modi's initiative, Australia welcomes PM Modi's calls for G20 linkup as well