Countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Seychelles and Mauritius are also participating in this initiative

In line with its efforts to help countries in fighting the pandemic, India has on Thursday decided to host a workshop on “Covid-19 Management: Experience, Good Practices and Way Forward.

Pakistan together with other countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Seychelles and Mauritius—is participating in this initiative on the Covid-19 crisis.

Each country has been invited to participate in the workshop in one plus one format. The workshop is being held at the official-level, where focus is laid on the exchanges of good practices to deal with the crisis. India’s Health Secretary is chairing the event. Many countries, participating in the event, belong to the SAARC group.

Last year in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a SAARC meet on the Covid-19 pandemic. The meet saw all the SAARC heads of govt/state taking part barring Pakistan. Pakistan was present at a junior level at the meeting. One of the key outcomes of the meet was the establishment of the SAARC emergency fund, with India contributing $10 million to it.

Under its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative, India has gifted Covid vaccines to countries in the region. These are --Bangladesh with 20 lakh doses, Myanmar with 17 lakh doses, Nepal with 10 lakh, Bhutan with 1.5 lakh, the Maldives with 1 lakh, Mauritius with 1 lakh, Seychelles with 50000, Sri Lanka with 5 lakhs, and Afghanistan 5 lakh. This is additional to many countries in Latin America, CARICOM that New Delhi reached out.