KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday visited South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) secretariat where he planted a tree wishing for better regional cooperation between the South Asian countries.
In a speech during the visit, PM stated that Pakistan was committed to SAARC’s vision and objectives of its charter.
He added that Pakistan endeavored to make SAARC a key to regional cooperation with due respect to its principle of sovereign equality. He stated that SAARC was an essential vehicle to strengthening of the economies of its member countries as well as to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Abbasi shed light on the importance of the organization as a bond striving to achieve cultural, economic and social growth as a region. He stressed on the need of building regional connectivity between SAARC members in order to take the road to prosperity.
He stated that Pakistan aimed for a secure and peaceful environment in South Asia which was certainly crucial to the region’s development and growth. Abbasi added that Pakistan will host the next SAARC summit, saying that a date will be finalized soon. He assured that the country would play its part in furthering a strong regional collaboration.
SAARC Secretary General Amjad Sial in his address acknowledged Pakistan’s vital role in the organization, previously hosting two summits. He added that the summits were a sign of mending and rebuilding the turst of growth between member states.
PM Abbasi planted a pine sapling at the end of the session in the secretariat premises as a sign of nurturing regional cooperation and development.