Pakistan to receive 15m Covid vaccine doses under Covax, says Qureshi after meeting German FM
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the government is inviting the world s attention towards economic opportunities in Pakistan through economic diplomacy. Photo courtesy: Radio Pakistan
Pakistan will receive 15 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine under the Covax facility, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced on Monday after a meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas.
Qureshi, who is on a two-day visit to Germany, said the 15m doses would be delivered by May. The Covax scheme is aimed at ensuring equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.
Iran plays the Eurasian card
The new China-Iran agreement prompts as many questions as answers. One thing is clear: China has taken action at a time when the U.S. is winding down its presence in the Middle East.
1105 WORDS
(April 12, 2021 / Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies) On March 27, China and Iran signed an expansive deal
in Tehran. Neither the Iranian nor the Chinese leadership have revealed details, but analysts believe it was largely along the lines of a leaked 18-page
draft published last year by
The New York Times.
The draft detailed a potential $400 billion in Chinese investment in Iran’s oil and gas industries, telecommunications, ports, railways and other sectors over 25 years. China would receive Iranian oil in return, under preferential terms. This could signal that Beijing, despite heavy U.S. sanctions, will still avail itself of Iranian oil. This would be very much in Tehran’s interest, as economic sanctions have decimated Iran’s oil and gas
Pakistan has transformed its geographical political priorities into geographical economic priorities, he said.
Qureshi said Pakistan is an emerging market of 220 million people where plenty of investment opportunities exist.
He said the government is providing all possible facilities, including e-visas, to foreign investors and welcomed German entrepreneurs and companies to invest in Pakistan.
Earlier, the foreign minister met with Speaker of Christian Democratic Union of Germany Nils Schmid. In a tweet, Qureshi said the two discussed the European Union, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and investment opportunities in special economic zones.
They also discussed developments in South Asia and the key role being played by Pakistan in Afghanistan.
Northlines
Lt. Gen GB Asthana
Existing Status of Standoff
The 11th round of India China Corps Commander’s meeting has ended with good optics and pleasantly worded PIB release, with no concrete agreement (if any) disseminated so far. Post disengagement of troops in Eastern Ladakh from North and South of Pangong Tso, no disengagement in other areas to include Depsang plains, Gogra, Hot Spring, Demchok, and no further de-escalation, was well predicted by most analysts. In “Two Session” press conference last month, Wang Yi suggested China and India to strengthen cooperation instead of harboring suspicion at each other and earlier indicated to get back to business as usual, sidelining border/LAC issue. The Indian Foreign Ministry seems to be conveying that disengagement at all friction points leading to de-escalation, peace and tranquility on borders are pre-requisites to progressing smooth bilateral ties.This rightful Indian stanceis adversely affected by indicators