ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain has emphasized the need to make the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) more proactive for progress and stability of the region.
While talking to newly elected Secretary General of SAARC Amjad Hussain B. Sial at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Tuesday, the president said that the SAARC Secretariat should utilize all its resources to make the Organization more proactive.
The president said that all member states should make concerted efforts to transform SAARC into an effective platform, adding that forum of SAARC can provide a solid foundation in this regard. He said that SAARC Charter is a very useful document for progress and development in various sectors of member states.
President Mamnoon said that Pakistan is working sincerely to achieve these objectives as it is imperative to promote these goals for prosperity and raising the standard of living of the people of member countries. He stressed the need to make regional road, sea and air links more effective.
Mamnoon Hussain said that Pakistan fully supports these objectives and believes that communication links between these regional countries will provide a basis for promoting economic activities in the region.
Moreover, he said that there is a need to work closely to settle differences among SAARC member states. To this end, he added, the role of SAARC Secretariat is very important but the member countries should also enhance bilateral relations to promote mutual harmony.
The Secretary General SAARC apprised that contacts at ministerial level in the fields of education, health and transport have already been initiated between member countries.
