ISLAMABAD: At the United Nations, Pakistan has called for ensuring vaccine equity to defeat the coronavirus pandemic globally.

Speaking at the General Assembly Second Committee, which deals with economic and social issues, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the world body Munir Akram said the pandemic has illustrated the oneness of humanity.

He said Pakistan welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Development Initiative, with the hope that both developing and industrial countries will join together within the framework of this important Initiative to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and promote a common future of prosperity for all nations and peoples.

Munir Akram also called for addressing tax havens and tax abuse, especially by multinational corporations and a universal UN intergovernmental forum to enable developing countries to generate adequate domestic revenues to finance the SDGs.