New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) India on Friday said it was for each SAARC Member State to decide on the timing, manner and implementation of their SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund commitments.
In response to queries on Pakistan pledging USD three million to the SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, proposed to be used through the SAARC Secretariat, in accordance with the SAARC Charter, official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said where India is concerned, the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is today in an advanced stage of implementation.
"Assistance in material and services has been extended to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. These SAARC countries have also made early commitments to the Fund. The degree of seriousness of each nation can be gauged by their behaviour," the spokesperson added.
Mr Modi had last month taken the initiative of holding a video conference of SAARC leaders, to chalk out ways of cooperation among the member states to tackle the COVID19 pandemic and as a first step, pledged 10 million dollars to the SAARC Emergency Fund.
UNI VT RJ 1203