Regional connectivity: Envoys call for making Saarc an effective forum

Ambassadors dispel pessimism about the future of SAARC.

ISLAMABAD: Ambassadors of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries have highlighted the need to make Saarc an effective regional grouping.

The envoys were speaking at a seminar on “The Future of Saarc” organised by the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) on Monday.

Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan dispelled the expression that Saarc was not moving forward. He hoped that the agreements reached at the 18th Saarc Summit will help promote energy trade in the region and beyond.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs South Asia Director General Mohammad Nafees Zakaria dispelled pessimism regarding future of Saarc. He said that a lot of progress was made during the Saarc summit in Nepal and quoted agreement on an energy grid as an example.

Zakaria, however, said that on the issue of transport cooperation many members were yet to complete their homework. He hoped the member countries will sign an agreement on transport issues in the upcoming meetings.



Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner Wijayanthi Edrisinghe expressed her government’s resolve to further strengthen the regional cooperation.

Ambassador of Nepal Bharat Raj Paudyal said that 18th Saarc summit was a success and the prime minister of Nepal helped bring the prime ministers of India and Pakistan together.

He hoped that besides promoting the energy cooperation the summit decisions will also help open South Asia to road transportation.

The Safma secretary general called upon the Saarc countries to allow free movement of media persons and free flow of information across South Asia.

He said the next step should be to move towards customs union and greater coordination among the central banks.

Speakers laid emphasis on connectivity by all means and creation of a tourism union and also suggested the creation of a regional security mechanism to counter drug trafficking, small arms proliferation and terrorism. They called for reforming SAARC secretariat on the lines of European Union and ASEAN secretariats.

Deputy ambassador of Korea Hong Keewon and Rachael Chen of the US Consulate General Lahore also attended the session.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2014.