Kathmandu, December 8

Secretary General of South Asian Association for Regional Corporation Amjad Hussain B Sial has extended felicitation to the member states of SAARC and their people on the

the occasion of the 35th SAARC Charter Day.

“As we commemorate this day, I also wish to reaffirm our conviction and commitment to make SAARC more robust, dynamic and capable of attaining the Charter objectives,” he said in a message. At the first SAARC Summit in Dhaka, the heads of state or government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka adopted the SAARC Charter on 8 December 1985, reaffirming their resolve to promote regional collaboration under the auspices of the association. Afghanistan became the eighth member of SAARC in April, 2007.

SAARC was formed primarily to promote welfare of the people of South Asia and improve their quality of life. “Since its inception in December 1985, SAARC has made steady progress in promoting regional collaboration in agreed priority areas. Strenuous inter-governmental efforts are under way to achieve the coveted objectives enshrined in the Charter, as well as the goal of the South Asian Economic Union as envisioned by our leaders,” Sial said.

According to him, improved intra-regional connectivity was essential for effective regional integration and promoting economic relations, people-to-people contacts and tourism. “In order to achieve these objectives, three important agreements — SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement, SAARC Railways Agreement and SAARC Air Services Agreement — are under consideration of the member states. It is earnestly hoped that the SAARC passenger and ferry services will be operational in the near future,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his greetings and felicitations to the people of SAARC countries on the occasion of the SAARC Charter Day. “SAARC, set up as an organisation to build a connected and integrated South Asia, aims at promoting development and progress of all countries in the region. India continues to support various initiatives to achieve closer cooperation in diverse areas,” Modi said in a message circulated by the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.

“SAARC has made progress, but more needs to be done. Our efforts for greater collaboration have repeatedly been challenged by threats and acts of terrorism. Such environment impedes our shared objective of realising the full potential of SAARC. It is critical that all countries in the region take effective steps to defeat the scourge of terrorism and the forces that support it.

This will generate greater trust and confidence to build a stronger SAARC,” the Indian prime minister added.