Pakistan to host 3-day SAARC chamber VPs meeting from April 27

ISLAMABAD, Apr 25 (APP):Pakistan will host 3-day meeting of Senior Vice President and all Vice Presidents from SAARC member countries on April 27 to chalk out strategies to materialize its vision 2030 for the common betterment of the people of the South Asia.
SAARC Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik said this meeting of SAARC CCI is crucial in this regard that there is dire need of an economic agenda which will be fruitful and result oriented to diminish poverty and uplift the living standard of the common people of the region, according to a statement issued here Wednesday.
He said all SAARC member states would work closely in taking regional co-operation forward. He said SAARC CCI President Ruwan Edirising could play an important role as catalyst to bring all the member states together and ensure timely and effective implementation of programme and activities that would benefit the region.
He said that the agenda of the meeting will be focused on enhancing trade among all the SAARC countries- Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Afghanistan. The matters pertaining to free trade in the SAARC region will also be discussed threadbare.
He said it will also be discussed in detail about the proposal of harmonisation of customs procedures and documentations in the region to facilitate movement of goods across the borders.
Iftikhar Malik said there is a dire need for improved connectivity in the region – including through land, sea and air route and early signing of Motor Vehicle and Railways Agreements.
He emphasized the need to overcome the difficulties that the organization faced and expressed the hope that under leadership of Ruwan Edirising SAARC CCI will play an effective role for the economic integration of the region.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional cooperation under the umbrella of SAARC for promoting welfare of the people of South Asia, improving their quality of life, economic progress, social uplift and cultural cooperation.
He said SAARC CCI has identified 20 projects in each SAARC member state and joint ventures have been signed for 12 projects across SAARC and some are in the negotiation stage. He said they will also discuss in the meeting of the current status of SAARC industrial parks.
“In Pakistan, the government has provided 150 acres of land in Faisalabad and the governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka are also keen on providing land to develop industrial parks,” he added.