Global Affairs Canada – COVID-19 related Foreign Economic Assistance to Pakistan

Muzammil Hussain
When during new wave of COVID – 19, that started to engage Asian countries at large and there was a sudden ample raise in the cases Canada being country of 37 Million population overcame the disease in swift manner. During the period Pak-Canada relationship has been remarkably ideal and persistently growing day to day in almost every field of life i.e. education, food, health and poverty elevation. Especially in these last two years these relationship became further deep and entered in to new era. In these times of new waves of COVID-19, when the economy of almost every country was suffering huge downfall, Canada continuously raised support for Pakistan directly and indirectly. DIRECT CONTRIBUTION TO PAKISTAN COVID-19 RESPONSE IN 2020 CAD $1.5M from Canada’s annual 2020 consolidated appeal funding to Pakistan, via WFP, ICRC, and UNHCR, supporting humanitarian efforts in Pakistan including the response to COVID-19. Additional CAD $1M to WFP Pakistan to respond to the increased food needs caused by COVID-19. This allocation is part of Canada’s contribution of $180M globally to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Contribution of CAD $1M to OCHA’s Pakistan Humanitarian Pooled fund (PHPF). Additionally, leftover amount of US $388,289 (contributions from DFID, SIDA, and GAC) allocated to OCHA in 2018-19 utilised by WHO in April- June 2020 to increase testing capacity. CAD $850,000 was provided to WHO to respond to the Government of Pakistan’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan (PPRP), which was developed in alignment with the WHO’s COVID-19 response for Pakistan. The project focused on coordination, disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, case management, infection prevention and control, and community mobilization. Total estimated DIRECT contribution from Canada for COVID-19 response in 2020 = $1.5M + $1M + $1M + $850,000 = $4.35 million CAD. Many operational Canadian development cooperation efforts (bilateral, partnership, and multilateral initiatives) also reallocated existing funds in 2020 to COVID-19 support, to the estimate of around $3.72 million CAD in total. This means Canada has provided over $8 million CAD of support to Pakistan’s COVID-19 response in 2020. IN 2021, CAD $8.04M from Canada’s annual 2021 consolidated appeal funding to Pakistan, via WFP, UNHCR, OCHA-PHPF, ICRC and International Rescue Committee (IRC), supporting humanitarian efforts in Pakistan, including in response to COVID-19. 162 medical ventilators and accompanying consumables donated on June 27, 2021 – worth CAD $3,428,082. Total Support IN 2021 thus far for COVID-19 = $8.04 million + $3.428 million almost over $11 million CAD Additional COVID-19 related support at global levels that has an impact on Pakistan are Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI): CAD $600 million commitment announced (May 12), 2021-2025 —routine immunizations to children worldwide & administer potential COVID-19 vaccine (global level – Pakistan is one of the recipient countries) Polio: Canada has committed over $750M to the polio eradication campaign since 2000 (globally) Global Polio Eradication Initiative pledge announced (May 12) – $47.5 million annually over four years (total $190 million) (with significant support coming to Pakistan and Afghanistan). Vaccines: As of 12 July 2021, Canada is contributing over 30 million vaccine doses to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility (these represents initial contributions with more to come). Additionally, Canada has committed $1.3 billion for the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a critical international partnership to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines which the Prime Minister of Canada has championed alongside other world leaders since May 2020 Moreover, $1 billion loan to the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (Apr 18, 2020), which funds interest-free loans to low-income countries (including Pakistan) Support COVID-19 Debt Service Suspension Initiative for Pakistan and the same is still going on.