Pakistan did not participate in the SAARC commerce ministry officials' meet that took place via video conference on Wednesday. Sources in Islamabad said they did not participate due to no participation by SAARC secretariat.

Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for a SAARC meet via video conference at heads of govt/states level for a regional coordinated policy on COVID-19. All countries participated at heads of govt/state level, barring Pakistan which had sent a junior level advisor for the meet. 

India had proposed an emergency COVID-19 fund in which all countries except Pakistan have announced contribution. 

After the heads of the level meet, SAARC countries' health ministry officials had also met via video conference. During the meet, the Indian side had proposed a shared electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices for jointly combating the coronavirus epidemic.

The commerce ministry officials meet was the third such video conference meet between the SAARC countries in last one month on COVID-19 crisis.