ISLAMABAD: Eighth South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) meeting of finance ministers would start from today (Thursday) in Islamabad to discuss matters related to banking and free trade. On the first day of conference, SAARC secretaries of finance would be conducting a meeting and on August 26, ministers of finance would also hold a meeting presided by PM Nawaz Sharif. The two-day SAARC finance ministers’ meeting would be attended by almost 100 delegates from eight different countries. Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan finance ministers would be attending the conference while Bangladesh Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Deputy Finance Minister of Afghanistan and India’s Economic Affairs secretary would be representing their respective countries. In the conference a range of issued would be under discussion such as customs, prevention of double taxation, back-up and protection of investment, cooperation in the banking sector and the implementation of free trade would be reviewed. Furthermore, measures would be proposed for introducing a South Asian Economic Union. SAARC is a platform to promote regional cooperation and cordial relations among these nations.