KATHMANDU: The 53rd SAARC Programming Committee meeting is scheduled to take place in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

According to Madi Prasad Bhattarai of the Regional Organization Division Chief under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting would discuss budget management for the operation of the Kathmandu-based SAARC Secretariat on February 1-2.

The Programming Committee comprises of the Foreign Joint-Secretaries from the SAARC member nations.

The meeting is taking place as per the activity calendar that mandates at least two such meetings of the Committee be held annually.

Nepal is hosting the meeting as the SAARC summit, which was to be organised by Pakistan, was postponed affecting the handover of the chairmanship of SAARC.