Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the global community to develop a joint strategy to overcome the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, reported Dawn, saying “We will perish or survive together.”

He warned the world of the “looming agricultural crisis”. He was delivering a keynote address at the governing council of the International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD). The COVID-19 crisis would push around 100 million more people into extreme poverty, he added. 

"We need a revolution in our vision of our future. The COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis should drive home the message to all rich and poor, weak or powerful that their destinies are intertwined. We will perish or survive together," he was quoted as saying by Dawn. 

During his address, he reminded that there was a lack of financing, shortage of investment, trade distortions, unsustainable production and consumption patterns, degradation of agricultural lands and forests, an impending water crisis, loss of biodiversity, and polluted rivers and oceans. 

These problems will hamper achieving the two key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): No hunger and zero poverty. 

"We need a common plan and strategy for global recovery and survival and prosperity of all humanity in response to the recession triggered by the COVID-19 crisis," he said.