UNITED NATIONS: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday launched a plan to accelerate work on drugs, tests and vaccines against COVID-19 and to share them around the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were among world leaders taking part in a video-conference to announce the plan.

Also Read: WHO acknowledges Pakistan’s isolation strategy for COVID-19

The WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the virtual meeting that the whole world was facing a common threat which could only be defeated with a common approach.

On Apr 23, the World Health Organisation, during the crucial period of the novel coronavirus pandemic, had urged the international community to provide financial assistance to Pakistan.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said in a series of tweets that Pakistan needed “flexible and timely funding” to distribute it where it was most needed.

The virus had spread in Punjab and Sindh to over 115 districts across the country, with high density. “The COVID-19 outbreak is creating significant additional pressure on an already overburdened health system, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of affected populations,” Dr Tedros had said.