The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) on Friday signed a MoU with South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in the area of environment protection.
The MoU was signed by the Association's Secretary General Q.A.M.A. Rahim and SACEP Director General Mahboob Elahi in line with the decisions taken by the Council of Ministers of Saarc and the Ministers of Environment, and the Governing Council and Consultative Committee of SACEP.
The MoU will constitute a framework of co-operation between Saarc and SACEP in the area of environment protection consistent with the Saarc Charter and the mandate of SACEP.
It provides for the two organisations to co-operate and develop mutually supportive arrangements to implement their respective environmental programmes and action plans, says a press release.
The two will also exchange information on the state of the global and regional environment and emerging environmental issues; collaborating in producing studies and reports on priority concerns in the field of environment; and strengthening capacity for effectively addressing global, regional and national environmental concerns.
The framework of co-operation between Saarc and SACEP reflects the vision of the region to face the challenge of sustainable development. It is also a realisation of the importance of capitalising on the separate strengths of the two organisations to address environmental issues.