Intra-regional Connectivity Essential To Promote Economic Ties, People-to-people Contacts: SAARC Secretary General

Umer Jamshaid Published December 11, 2018 | 09:41 PM

Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Amjad Hussain B. Sial Tuesday underscored the need to ensure implementation of the activities once agreed to by the member states, including those at the ministerial level.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2018 ) :Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Amjad Hussain B. Sial Tuesday underscored the need to ensure implementation of the activities once agreed to by the member states, including those at the ministerial level.

Stating that improved intra-regional connectivity was essential to promote economic relations, tourism and people-to-people contacts, he expressed the hope that the three regional agreements on Motor Vehicles, Railways and Air Services would be concluded soon.

The Secretary General of SAARC was addressing the fifty-sixth session of the Programming Committee of SAARC which commenced in Kathmandu, according to a message received here.

He also highlighted the importance of project-based collaboration to bring dividends of regional cooperation to the peoples in the region.

Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary (SAARC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal chaired the meeting.

The Programming Committee is a Charter Body of SAARC.

The two-day Session of the Programming Committee brings together Heads of SAARC Divisions (Joint Secretary/Director General) from the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs or National Focal Points of the Member States of SAARC.

The Committee will review the current status of regional cooperation in the identified areas. The Committee will also finalize the budgets and Calendars of Activities of the SAARC Secretariat, Specialized Bodies and Regional Centres.

In his opening remarks, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary and Chairperson of the Programming Committee reiterated unflinching commitment of Nepal to the SAARC process. He also appreciated the role of the SAARC Secretariat and excellent arrangements made for the meeting.

The Programming Committee last met at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu on 06 July 2018.