Lahore, (Pakistan Point News - 2nd May, 2018) : Ruwan Edirisinghe, President SAARC Chamber Wednesday urged political leadership of South Asia to show courage, flexibility and statesmanship to dismantle political barriers and address inter-state conflicts for laying the foundations of a regional economic take off. Talking to media at airport prior to his departure for Colombo, he said there is immense scope of collaboration in the spheres of culture, sports, tourism, education, research, human resource development, poverty alleviation and environment among the SAARC member countries.
He stressed for collective wisdom to evolve a South Asian vision and fraternity, adding that SAARC members must develop home-grown solutions to overcome poverty, unemployment and economic disparity. Underlining the need for close bilateral ties, he said SAARC members must allow greater interaction among the policy-makers, parliamentarians, businessmen, media practitioners, professionals and the leaders of civil society. Diversity among the member countries needs to be employed to accelerate the process of development through greater bilateral connectivity, he said.
He regretted the fact that the region lags behind the world despite immense natural and human resources, adding that South Asia is still deprived of basic health and educational facilities. Mr Ruwan said South Asia could also do well by learning from the global best practices and apply them to regional context for the welfare of its people � a common cause for all member countries. Stressing the need for collective effort for betterment of the region, he said history will not forgive us if member countries continue to be bogged down by narrow considerations, adding that 1.
2 billion People of South Asia expect their leaders to exercise vision, statesmanship and think out of box to put SAARC in the league of other groupings. Nothing can be achieved if we do not open our minds to each other and allow connectivity to flourish, he stressed. He said Pakistan and newly elected Senior Vice President SAARC Chamber Iftikhar Ali Malik both have played a significant proactive role to make SAARC a model of regional cooperation, based on the principles of sovereign equality.
He said cross-border trade could help overcome poverty and strengthen economies. SAARC visa Exemption Scheme has been instrumental in promoting people to people contact including businessmen and media persons, he added. He stressed the need to evolve sustainable mechanisms to translate objectives of SAARC into reality as well as turn SAARC into a formidable regional body which could rub shoulders with other similar regional bodies. SAARC Chamber President called upon the media men play their role in educating people on the socio-economic advantages of cooperation among the member states and guide government for a conducive environment which could put all the countries on the path of development.
SVP SAARC Chamber Iftikhar Ali Malik,Vice Chairman SAARC Youth Entrepreneur Shaharyar Ali Malik, Advisor SAARC Zubair Ahmad Malik, Chairman FPCCI Coordination Committee Malik Sohail Hussain, Secretary General Ms Hina Saeed and Deputy Secretary General Zulfiqar Ali Butt were also present on the occasion.