RIYADH: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday while terming the global inequity in health sector as "the first and foremost problem", called upon bridging the widening gap between the Global South and the Global North, in his address at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) session on global health agenda in Riyadh.
Addressing a session on the global health agenda during the World Economic Forum's (WEF) special meeting in Riyadh, PM Shehbaz spoke about the time he was struck with a "nasty cancer".
"I was struck by a very nasty cancer, 'Adenocarcinoid', and I was flown to New York. At that time I had to pay thousands of dollars from my pocket and I wondered how many people in my country could afford this kind of expensive treatment and I said 'not very many'".
Speaking about the issue of global healthcare inequities, PM Shehbaz said that COVID-19 exposed these imbalances and gaps hugely.
"Imagine global north and south, distribution of vaccines and so on and so forth," he added.
The PM then talked about the issues faced by Pakistan including climate change, which he said completely changed the landscape.
"Pakistan does not contribute even a fraction of emissions yet we are on the red list for climate change and in 2022, we experience the worst climate change floods in Pakistan.
"Everything was devastated from hospitals to schools to land and agriculture and we had to invest hundreds of billions of rupees to rehabilitate people," added the premier, questioning whether a developing country can afford to do that.
PM Shehbaz in his speech also highlighted the work done by his government when he was the chief minister, saying that he was able to provide resources to the far corner of Punjab.
He added that he also provided hepatitis facilities and CT scans in every remote area of the province for poor people who are in dire need.
The PM further mentioned that he built one of the finest hospitals for kidney and liver in Lahore where free treatments were given to the poor while the rich people were charged, adding that his government was able to provide facilities to the people through this combination of cross-option subsidy.
During his two-day visit, PM Shehbaz will also meet Emir of Kuwait Mashal Al Ahmed Al Jabr.
The premier, accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, is also expected to meet International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, wherein he would exchange views over the prospects and details of the new economic package being sought out by Pakistan.
The forum will provide a key opportunity for Islamabad to showcase its priorities specifically in global health architecture, inclusive growth, revitalising regional collaboration and the need for striking a balance between promoting growth and energy consumption.
The two-day event will see around 1,000 leaders coming together for "a comprehensive dialogue on leveraging global cooperation for economic development, promoting a global energy transition that underpins sustainable development and furthering technological advancement".
Separately, the premier met Islamic Development Bank President Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser on the sidelines of the WEF event.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the progress on various ongoing IDB-funded projects in Pakistan and explored new opportunities for cooperation between Islamabad and the lender.
Appreciating IDB's assistance to Islamabad with regard to the post-flood rehabilitation measures and acknowledging its role in providing assistance in partnership, reconstruction, and employment in the country, the premier reaffirmed the Special Investment Facilitation Council's (SIFC) active role with regard to sourcing foreign investment in the country.
Meanwhile, terming Pakistan as an important founding member of the IDB, Sulaiman Al Jasser underscored Pakistan's abundant natural and water resources along with the utility held by the country's significant manpower which can be "fully benefitted" from.
PM Shehbaz is also expected to brush shoulders with technology mogul and Microsoft founder Bill Gates along with several Saudi ministers including that of finance, industry and investment.
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