ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday urged Italy to take up the issue of debt relief for developing countries at the extraordinary meeting of G20 countries.

The extraordinary summit of G20, hosted by Saudi Arabia, was held on Thursday via video link. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a telephonic conversation with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio on the Covid-19 pandemic, hoped that Italy as an important member of the European Union, the G7 and G20 would take up the matter of debt relief and rescheduling for developing countries at the Summit.

Developing countries are facing intense economic challenges while dealing with the epidemic.

Italy has been the worst hit country in Europe with nearly 7,500 fatalities because of the pandemic so far and about 75,000 known patients suffering from the disease.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020