F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has urged the member countries to exchange more information, experiences and capabilities to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
This was stated at a joint statement issued at the end of the video conference of OIC- Steering Committee on Health, which was held to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing the meeting, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza underlined the need of a collective international response to cope with challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.
He underscored that Pakistan had been actively engaged in containing the pandemic from its outset by taking several preventive measures.
The Special Assistant stated that planning and coordination efforts are being led by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself.
He further said that to ensure a unified national response, a robust institutional mechanism was set up under the National Security Committee (NSC) and National Coordination Committee (NCC).
Dr Zafar Mirza termed the pandemic both as a challenge and opportunity for introspection, especially on healthcare spending and emergencies’ preparedness.
Emphasizing the importance of health security as a key component of national security, he underlined the need to develop health regulations at international level and a legal framework at national level to enhance investment in healthcare security infrastructure.
The SAPM emphasized that OIC should strengthen its capacity to cope with this unprecedented challenge by exploiting comparative advantage of member States in the development of pharmaceutical products, vaccines and PPE. He also highlighted Pakistan’s comparative advantage in the healthcare sector.
In his remarks, OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen highlighted the need for the OIC member States to take immediate and decisive measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
He expressed OIC’s readiness to utilize its available resources to help the peoples of the Islamic world in these difficult times and expressed appreciation to the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for their initiatives.
Pakistan is a member of the OIC-SCH. Other members include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Maldives, Mauritania, Chad, Turkey, Egypt, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Sudan.
