Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan says he fears the new coronavirus will devastate third world economies, warning richer economies to prepare to write off the debts of the world’s poorer countries.
He also called for an end to sanctions on Iran saying they were crippling the nation’s ability to even contain the spread of the virus.
So far 14,991 Iranians have tested positive and 853 have died.
Most of Pakistan’s 120 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been traced back to Iran and all of the 21 Afghans who tested positive had travelled to Iran.
Khan said he worries Pakistan won’t be able to cope with a major outbreak, saying the country’s health facilities would be overwhelmed and would lack resources.
He added he had begun seeking additional equipment such as ventilators.
He warned it won’t be just Pakistan that will be unable to cope.
The entire developing world would be overwhelmed.
“It’s not just Pakistan. I would imagine the same in India, in the subcontinent, in African countries,” he said.
“If it spreads, we will all have problems with our health facilities. We just don’t have that capability. We just don’t have the resources.”
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