Pakistan committed to Saarc Charter, says PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Charter of Saarc on 35th Saarc Charter Day commemorated on Sunday.

In a message issued by the PMO, Imran said Pakistan believed that effective and result-oriented regional cooperation could be achieved only by adhering to the cardinal principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect as enshrined in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) charter.

He said Pakistan was a firm believer in the strength and potential of regional cooperation for individual, national and regional development.

The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Saarc process and expressed hope that the hiatus created in its continuous progression would be removed, thus enabling the Saarc nations to forge ahead on the path of regional cooperation for development and to achieve their full potential.

The Saarc was brainchild of former Bangladesh slain president General Zia ur Rehman who laid the foundation of the association along with Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and The Maldives. Later Afghanistan was also brought into the fold.

Imran felicitated the peoples of the Saarc member states.

He wished the people of South Asia, peace, progress and prosperity.

He said December 8 marked the day when leaders with vision and foresight adopted the Saarc charter and pledged to work together for the progress and prosperity of South Asia.

“This day reminds us of the enormous responsibility placed on our shoulders by our peoples, and their expectations from their leaders to address the common challenges of poverty, illiteracy, disease and under-development,” he said.

During the first summit in Dhaka on December 8, 1985, the heads of state and government from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives had adopted the Charter of Saarc which marked the beginning of a new era of regional cooperation in the history of South Asia.