SAARC states asked to resolve differences

Progress is possible after political issues are meaningfully addressed


Progress is possible after political issues are meaningfully addressed. PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik has emphasised the immediate need for member states of the regional bloc to resolve all differences through the Saarc platform rather than seeking arbitration in international courts.

In a statement, Malik emphasised that the economy should be the most important agenda of Saarc nations despite political challenges and compulsions.

“Saarc has suffered badly due to India’s bigoted stance against Pakistan,” he said. “Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s withdrawal from a meeting of the Saarc Council of Ministers, held on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly, is nothing more than an attempt to derail the peace process.”

He added that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was correct when he accused India of being an obstacle in the way of promoting regional cooperation through Saarc.

Be Pakistani, buy Chinese

He stressed that the Indian government should realise now that increased cooperation, contacts and exchanges among regional countries would contribute to the promotion of friendship and understanding among the people.

“Saarc was established to promote cooperation within an institutional framework,” he said. “It would be unwise to permanently erase such issues from Saarc.”

He pointed out that success of other regional organisations like the EEC and Asean showed that progress was possible only after political issues were meaningfully addressed and there was no reason why Saarc should lag behind.

“Member states should be able to use this platform to help narrow down the political differences among themselves,” said Malik. “I am quite aware that our charter precludes discussion of contentious political disputes in our meetings.”

Several export products of Pakistan face MFN tariff in India

Highlighting the role of youth in bringing all member states closer to each other, he said, “We have the youngest people in the world; the Saarc region will continue to grow for another 20 to 25 years so we have to make sure that our youth are healthy and people qualified.”

Besides, tourism was also another important area where Saarc nations could work together.

“This region is rich in natural resources but nearly 40% of our population is living below the poverty line,” Malik lamented. “We only have about 5% of the global trade happening in the Saarc region, but population-wise we are huge.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2018.

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