Pakistan's Prime Minister to visit three SAARC Countries
Pakistan Times Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is undertaking his first-ever visit of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, the three states of seven-member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) from first November to further boost ties with these countries.

During this visit, the Prime Minister will be accompanied by a 14-member delegation including six ministers and ministers of state, and five leading businessmen.

The Prime Minister will visit remaining three members states including Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India later in the third week of November.

The Federal and State Ministers accompanying the Prime Minister will deal with economic, commerce, trade and industry, textiles and water and power issues for further promoting trade and economic ties with these regional member states.

Agenda

The Prime Minister, besides holding talks with the leaders of these three countries, will also meet leading businessmen to enhance trade and economic relations.

The Prime Minister is undertaking this tour in his capacity as the outgoing Chairman of SAARC. Pakistan was elected Chairman of the regional group in its 12th meeting held in Islamabad in January this year.

During his four-day visit, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will discuss regional situation with leaders of these members states and brief them about the latest progress on confidence-building measures between Pakistan and India.

The Prime Minister during his visit to Bangladesh, would take an opportunity to further promote bilateral and brotherly relations and discuss ways and means to further enhance trade and economic ties.

The Entourage

The businessmen accompanying the Prime Minister and the ministers will have interaction with their counterparts in these countries to further promote the trade.

They will also look into ways and means of opening new avenues of economic relations.

The seven-member SAARC, comprising Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives, is a very important regional organization, working for mutual understanding, good neighbourly relations and meaningful cooperation.

Officials said the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to these three countries would further promote Pakistan's friendly relations and increase mutual harmony.

The visit of Prime Minister will also be helpful in tackling the poverty, considered as a foremost issue of the region.●