Final-day deliberations: Progress in achieving SAARC goals ‘slow’

Terrorism identified as South Asia’s biggest challenge.

ISLAMABAD:

Identifying terrorism as the central challenge to democracy in South Asia, the sixth Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Conference of Speakers and Parliamentarians revealed that progress towards achieving focussed goals was “slow”.

Marking the concluding session of the regional conference, parliamentarians discussed themes focussing on democracy, food security and achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs).

While 18 members spoke on the topic of ‘Meaningful Participatory Democracy, Parliament’s Affirmative Actions’, the other 17 members took part in the deliberations on ‘Targeting Food Security for the Region: Parliament’s Role in Accomplishing Millennium Development Goals.’

“It was heartening to see a strong agreement on strengthening the political parties’ structures at all levels,” said National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza. She stated that it was satisfactory to witness calls made for greater parliamentary interventions in addressing issues of corruption, class-divide and trends of rising intolerance in South Asia.

Mirza, who was the chair of the forum, told participants that the conference in its different sessions noted with alarm that there was a general lack of ownership towards the MDGs from Saarc parliaments.

“The Saarc Food Security Bank was established in 2007 but the pace of its progress has remained far too slow,” Mirza stated. “A combined parliamentary political intervention has been recommended to give it a boost.”

Pak-India friendship

Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha Meira Kumar ended her informal thank you note to the people of Pakistan with an unexpected slogan: “Long live Indo-Pak friendship” — generating a longstanding round of applause.

Expressing hope that the people of India and Pakistan would carry on their efforts for sustainable peace between them, the Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha expressed satisfaction over the successful conclusion of the conference.

“Here (in Pakistan), we felt at home. We would love to come again. I thank the people of Pakistan for their hospitality and congratulate you on the successful holding of this conference,” Kumar told journalists.

“India and Pakistan will come closer in times to come and the two neighbours will grow prosperous together,” she said.

PM’s luncheon

Marking the successful culmination of the conference, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that full potential of South Asia can only be realised by resolving differences peacefully and solving problems “purposefully”.

Addressing a luncheon hosted in the honour of the participants at the PM House, the prime minister said the parliamentarians have a unique advantage and they can play a significant role in promoting the ideals of peace and prosperity in their respective countries and the region.

“We are committed to go an extra mile to make Saarc an effective and productive organisation that is beneficial to all South Asian citizens,” he said.

“Let’s join hands to extend support to strengthen democracy in our region.”

(WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2012.