ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom has provided additional £4.39 million to Pakistan in the fight to stop the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate its impacts.
According to a press statement issued by the British High Commission on Friday, the UK will provide aid for the most vulnerable and to boost wider public health communications.
Lord Ahmad, UK Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth said, “By supporting the poorest and most vulnerable people, especially those facing discrimination and by spreading information on how to protect against coronavirus, we can save lives.”
He said that the UK is proud to support Pakistan. “Through our investment in international vaccine research and the Global Vaccine Alliance, we will help end this pandemic sooner and prevent future waves of infection. The UK stands with you in these difficult times,” he added.
British High Commissioner Dr Christian Turner CMG said that Pakistan has shown international leadership in its response, balancing the need to keep healthy, with growing the economy and protecting the poorest. Friends must stand together at difficult times, he added. “Although we are socially distancing, we are not apart,” he further said.
Head of Office for the UK’s Department for International Development in Pakistan, Annabel Gerry, said, “It is increasingly important that we work together to help those who are the most vulnerable. This is why I am proud that UK aid will be there for the women and children who face increased threats of violence and stigma in their own home and need access to these support services.”
The UK is playing a leading role in the global effort to tackle coronavirus, including on vaccine development, strengthening health systems and support for the global economy. On 4 June the UK will host the Global Vaccine Summit, to raise money to ensure Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, can vaccinate 300 million more children against infectious diseases including in Pakistan. “By working together as international partners to defeat this pandemic, we are all safer,” he added.
This latest £4.39m package of support includes being the first donor to contribute to Pakistan’s Humanitarian Pooled Fund (PHPF). The UK aid support for PHPF will help provide comprehensive support to fight the coronavirus and help those impacted indirectly by the crisis. This includes supporting emergency response systems and providing assistance towards food security, sanitation and hygiene, mental health and psychological support.
The package will support Aawaz II, which aims to empower and protect women and children. This joint programme from UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women will provide support to nearly 10,000 women and children who face violence in their own home through, the Aawaz helplines staffed by men and women trained in the provision of psychosocial support and referral services. The Aawaz programme will also reach nearly 2 million people with messages fighting against stigma and discrimination as a result of coronavirus, the statement said.
The package will also support the Khairkhwah information campaign on TV and radio, which will reach up to 80 million people with messages on how to taking appropriate safety measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus in communities.
