Calling on the SAARC nations to set an example for the world, Modi had reached out to the eight-member regional grouping and pitched for a video conference among its leaders to chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus. (File photo: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be representing India in a video-conference to be attended by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member nations on Sunday. This meeting will be held via video conference in a measure to promote the World Health Organisation's advise to avoid public gatherings.

On Friday, PM Narendra Modi proposed the formulation of a joint strategy by SAARC member nations to control and monitor the Covid-19 outbreak. The prime minister's proposition was welcomed by leaders of all the member states.

In a tweet on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, Coming together for common good! 15 March, 1700 IST. PM Narendra Modi will lead India at the video conference of all SAARC member countries, to chalk out a strong common strategy to fight COVID-19 in the region.

Coming together for common good!



15 March, 1700 IST



PM @narendramodi will lead India at the video conference of all SAARC member countries, to chalk out a strong common strategy to fight COVID-19 in the region. pic.twitter.com/Qa0kL9CqcI Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) March 14, 2020

With the novel coronavirus claiming close to 5,000 lives across the globe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on India's neighbours to interact via video-conferencing and draft a strategy to prevent further spread of the infection. As of March 14, Covid-19 has infected as many as 150,000 people across the world.

Prime Minister Modi's appeal for coordinated action was met with the prompt response by Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. On behalf of Pakistan, Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan will be attending the conference.

Timely action for a healthier planet.



Tomorrow at 5 PM, leaders of SAARC nations will discuss, via conferencing, a roadmap to fight the challenge of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus.



I am confident that our coming together will lead to effective outcomes and benefit our citizens. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2020

Pakistan's response to the proposal came late in the night with the country's Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui saying the threat of COVID-19 required coordinated efforts at global and regional levels.

(With inputs from PTI)

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