SAARC summit: PM Nawaz calls for dispute-free South Asia

PM Nawaz announces Pakistan will host 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad

KHATMANDU: My vision for South Asia is to have a dispute-free region, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

Addressing the 18th summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc), PM Nawaz emphasised that the region which was home to a quarter of the world's population was mired in poverty, disease and illiteracy and had the lowest human and social indicators.

"The region only accounts for 6 per cent of the world's GDP in purchasing power parity and is one of the least integrated regions in the world," he said.

Committed to address the issues faced by the region and resolving them, the premier said that the people should be central to the Saarc processes.

He added that the region should build upon its inherent strengths in order to effectively address common issues such as socio-economic disparity, poverty alleviation, women empowerment, health and education.

Addressing the issues, the prime minister said, "would require close coordination at national and regional levels and greater collaboration in all sectors of development".

Touching on the recent monsoon floods in South Asian countries, the premier said that regional coordination on cross-border information sharing was vital, saying that "natural disasters affect everyone, regardless of national boundaries and economic status."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among other Saarc leaders, who are attending the summit and will address the participants.

PM Nawaz lauded the efforts of Nepal's Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for successfully holding the Saarc summit, affirming that together they would fight disease and illiteracy and alleviate poverty.

"We must develop bonds of trust to resolve our problems," the premier said.

PM Nawaz announced that Pakistan will host the 19th Saarc summit in Islamabad.

"Pakistan was pleased to host the next Saarc Summit in Islamabad," the premier said.



Nawaz, Sri Lankan president discuss bilateral ties

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa held a bilateral meeting in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Nawaz and Rajapaksa discussed matters pertaining to bilateral relations and the regional situation and agreed to further strengthen and enhance cooperation in diverse fields, according to Radio Pakistan.

“Pakistan desires to strengthen bilateral ties with Sri Lanka,” the premier said.



PM Nawaz is congratulated by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa after Sharif addressed the opening session of the Saarc summit. PHOTO: AFP

Further, PM Nawaz also met Maldives President Abdulla Yameen also held a meeting on the sidelines of the SAARC summit.

The Kathmandu summit is being attended by a number of observers from China, Japan, Australia, the United States and the European Union. The summit has been preceded by preparatory meetings at the senior official and ministerial levels. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry met his counterparts at the Saarc Standing Committee Meeting, which was followed by the meeting of Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on national security and foreign affairs.