Pakistan PM warns new virus may devastate developing nations

Pakistan's prime minister said on Monday he fears the new coronavirus will devastate the economies of developing nations, and warned richer economies to prepare to write off the debts of the world's poorer countries.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Imran Khan criticised recent comments by the president of neighbouring Afghanistan, which appeared to reference accusations that Pakistan used militants to further its own goals in years past.

Khan also raised concern over Hindu-Muslim violence in India.

He further called for lifting sanctions against Iran, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East.

Khan sat down with the AP at his office in the resplendent white-domed government headquarters in the capital of Islamabad. He'd spent much of his day meeting experts about the effect of the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan, which has confirmed 183 cases so far.

"My worry is poverty and hunger," Khan said. "The world community has to think of some sort of a debt write-off for countries like us, which are very vulnerable, at least that will help us in coping with (the coronavirus)."
"It's not just Pakistan. I would imagine the same in India, in the subcontinent, in African countries, he said, referring to the virus. "If it spreads, we will all have problems with our health facilities. We just don't have that capability. We just don't have the resources."