Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Friday said that Pakistan remains committed to jointly work with the SAARC member states to get people of the South Asian region out of clutches of poverty, illiteracy and other social ills. He was addressing the inaugural session of the 8th meeting of Finance Ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries here.

Prime Minister Sharif called for making the organisation more efficient, practical and responsive to the expectations of people, and in this regard urged all SAARC member states, Secretariat, regional centres and specialised bodies to make coordinated, sustained and resolute efforts. He said Pakistan believes in a SAARC solution to the regional issues by fully supporting all the initiatives taken by it. He said Pakistan also supported all initiatives taken under the SAARC. Pakistan has also been a strong advocate for stepping up regional efforts to ensure energy security for sharing of indigenous sources of energy. Pakistan believes that road, rail and air connectivity were critical to the progress and prosperity of the region.

“We believe that SAARC must position itself to engage interested states and organisations to develop win-win complementarities for social economic progress in the region.” The prime minister said the SAARC organisation was formed three decades earlier with a commitment to promote social welfare, improving quality of life and cultural development.

Prime Minister Sharif said increasing interdependence and common concerns have led to the need of finding regional solutions. He said increasing connectivity, ease in communication, freer trade and finding innovative solutions to hunger, poverty and food security has helped the world to enhance regional and sub-regional cooperation. Sharif said progress has been made to counter the impact of climate change, spread of diseases, economic spill-over and social evils were being dealt by joint strategies at regional level. He stressed that interdependence calls for greater cohesion among the SAARC member states.

Prime Minister Sharif said South Asia was a region of vast opportunities endowed with abundant human and natural resources, and 20% of the world’s population lived here. Its untapped wealth and under-utilised resources provided opportunities for development and prosperity of the region, he added. He said to optimally harness its potential for peace and prosperity of people, SAARC calls for a platform to collectively work for the region, free of economic constraints and social ills. The prime minister shared Pakistan’s successful economic comeback and said his government has brought economic stability to the country.

“Our government is continuing with the reforms for strengthening the legal, regulatory and supervisory framework aimed at safeguarding stability.” He said the country’s reform strategy was aimed at enhancing ease of doing business and flow of foreign direct investments. He praised the performance of the banking sector and said the trickle-down effect of macro-economic stability was benefitting the masses. Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan was ready to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people of the region.

“We believe that despite numerous challenges SAARC has made commendable progress in promoting greater regional integration in South Asia.” The Prime Minister welcomed the delegates to Islamabad and hoped they would come up with useful recommendations to make the organisation more viable and effective.