FRANKFURT – Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Senator Ishaq Dar attended the 10th Informal Meeting of SAARC Finance Ministers on the sidelines of the ADB’s annual board of governors meeting in Frankfurt, Germany. Speaking on the occasion, the minister reiterated Pakistan’s support to the idea of promoting regional connectivity across the SAARC region by strengthening cooperation in the areas of transportation, investment and trade. He stressed the need for greater and meaningful cooperation among member states and offered to host the next meeting of SAARC finance ministers between 15th of July and end August, 2016. He appreciated the role of ADB and its commitment to homogeneous economic development across the sub-regions of Asia. He emphasised the need of transformation of South Asia Transport Corridor by focusing on the enhanced transport network, trade liberalisation and building nodes and gateways to link the SAARC region. He informed SAARC finance ministers that the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play an important role in connecting SAARC with Central Asian Region. He suggested that various new financial cooperation modes like economic and infrastructure projects through SAARC development fund needed to be initiated, in collaboration with other development partners to establish an economic corridor connecting the South Asian economies.