"South Asia's prosperity depends on the political leadership to focus on long-term development by mitigating distrust and differences at the political level," this was stated by Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood.
He said that Pakistan is committed to work for achieving economic, social and cultural development in every country of South Asia by combating common challenges of poverty, unemployment, terrorism, transnational crimes and climate change. He was addressing the 35th SAARC Charter Day organised by SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"South Asia has huge potentials for transforming development landscape of our region. To achieve this, SAARC has to redouble its efforts in deepening cooperation. SAARC needs to focus more on the delivery of concrete results through effective implementation of our commitments and decisions made so far" he added. The Advisor also congratulated senior businessman Iftikhar Ali Malik on his nomination as SAARC CCI President for the term 2020-2022.
While speaking on the occasion Iftikahr Ali Malik Vice President SAARC CCI (Pakistan) and incoming President SAARC CCI said "I firmly believe that our region can emerge as a driving engine for the world economy if we exploit our economic complementarities, completely normalize our trade relations, and ensure an environment for rapid growth".
Speaking on the occasion President FPCCI Engineer Daroo Khan said "Today we need meaningful confidence-building measures, the move has the potential to undo this freeze and push the SAARC member states to engage in a positive and purposeful manner to benefit the regional cooperation".
The Former Secretary General SAARC and Ambassador of Maldives in Pakistan H.E Mr. Ahmed Saleem said "Despite mounting challenges, SAARC has contributed to uplift the socioeconomic progress of people of SAARC". He called on the leaders of South Asia to resolve for the stalled 19th SAARC Summit to convene in Islamabad and dialogue for the betterment of people of South Asia.
The 35th SAARC Charter day celebration was addressed by diplomatic missions of SAARC countries in Islamabad Tarik Ahsan (Bangladesh), Ahmed Saleem, (Maldives), Sewa Lamsal, (Nepal), Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid (Sri Lanka), Zahidullah Jalali, Director General, SAARC Arbitration Council, Mr. Zubair Ahmed Malik EC Member SAARC CCI and Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Acting Secretary General SAARC CCI.
The President and members of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry extended warm felicitations to the people and governments of the member states and recommitted to strengthen SAARC to meet the growing expectations of peoples in the region.-PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019