Pakistan, Bangladesh PMs resolve to Strengthen SAARC
By ABM Nafeezur Rehman - Pakistan Times Foreign Correspondent

DHAKA (Bangladesh): Pakistan and Bangladesh Wednesday expressed the determination to further strengthen SAARC by enhancing trade and economic relations among the member states of the organization to ensure prosperity of the region and effectively fight poverty.

During a meeting between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his counterpart Begum Khaleda Zia held at Dhaka, both the countries decided to promote their interaction to implement the decisions of the SAARC Summit.

Members of Pakistan delegation and Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar attended the meeting while Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was assisted by Foreign Minister Murshad Khan and other members of her cabinet.

The Prime Minister, who is visiting Dhaka as SAARC Chairman thanked Bangladesh for its role in regional cooperation through the SAARC interation.

He also extended thanks to Begum Khaleda Zia for her cooperation and support provided by Bangladesh in revitalizing and strengthening SAARC through active contribution in the socio-economic and cultural exchanges by the member states.

The Topics

Both the leaders also reviewed several proposals and exchanged ideas to make the organization more vibrant and effective for promoting regional peace, cooperation and poverty alleviation.

They also exchanged views on the progress and implementation of the decisions taken by 12th SAARC Summit, especially on SAFTA and SAARC Social Charter.

Both the countries also discussed different ideas and proposals to promote trade relations between the members of SAARC to secure full benefit from the Charter of the organization.

The 13th SAARC Summit

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz assured Begum Zia of his full help and cooperation for the success of 13th SAARC Summit being held in Dhaka in January next.

Both the leaders also exchanged views for starting special projects for poverty alleviation in the region under the SAARC Charter. They also agreed to help each other in various fields.

Khaleda Zia and Shaukat Aziz agreed to implement the decisions of the SAARC for the mutual benefit of the peoples and promote development in the region.

Satisfaction

Begum Zia expressed her satisfaction over the fruitful exchange of views between the two leaders on the future of organization. She said, "We are committed to combining efforts in sustaining the momentum generated during the Islamabad Summit."

She assured Shaukat Aziz of her country's full cooperation in the follow-up of the commitments and decisions made during the summit.

Technical fault in Plane delays PM's departure

The departure of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz from Nepal was delayed for about 45 minutes when pilot of the special flight found some technical fault in the aircraft.

He aborted take off and brought the plane back from the run-way and engineers of PIA and Nepal examined the aircraft and found nothing un-usual.

The Prime Minister and members of the entourage remained in the plane and after about 45 minutes, the plane took off for Dhaka on the last leg of the Prime Minister's four-day tour to three member states of SAARC.●