ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is committed to jointly working with South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states in fighting terrorism, corruption and organized crimes.
In his address at the inaugural session of the SAARC Interior Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad on Thursday morning, the prime minster said that at national level, Pakistan has made remarkable gains against terrorism through operation Zarb-e-Azb and effective implementation of anti-terror National Action Plan (NAP). He added that these reflect the government’s determination to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from our soil for good.
The prime minister pointed out that SAARC region is blessed with tremendous human and natural resources. So, he added, SAARC can and should provide a platform to optimally harness the regional potential for peace and prosperity of our people.
Nawaz Sharif said that such an approach is in sync with his government’s vision of peace for development and peaceful neighbourhood.
Sharif said that Pakistan has always been supportive of initiatives taken by SAARC to advance its ideals and objectives as enshrined in its charter. He said that Pakistan has also been strong advocate of stepping up regional efforts to ensure energy security through sharing of indigenous sources.
The prime minister said that Pakistan shares the perception that connectivity is critical to the progress and prosperity of the region and supports, in principle, road, air, rail and water connectivity within the region.
Nawaz Sharif said that realization of the goals and objectives envisaged in SAARC charter is our collective responsibility.
Earlier, one-day meeting of the Interior Ministers of the SAARC countries began in Islamabad on Thursday morning to discuss wide range of issues relating to the countries of the SAARC region.
The Indian Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh was also participating in the SAARC Conference.
In his welcome address at the SAARC Interior Ministers’ Conference, the Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan urged the regional countries to collectively work for promoting good governance and combating challenges faced by the region.
The minister said that since its last conference, SAARC has made major headways to deal with issues of peace, stability, transnational organized crimes and human trafficking.
The interior minister expressed the confidence that the regional organization will continue to move forward with the same spirit in order to achieve the goal of peace and stability in the region.
Nisar pointed out that the South Asian region is faced with a number of daunting challenges and threats like militancy, terrorism, social injustice, corruption and organized crimes. He said that these are the issues that have hindered our socio economic development.
Chaudhry Nisar said that the South Asian region shares similar and common borders and they collectively need to create such an environment that is free from violence.
The minister also said that Pakistan is committed to the SAARC process and desires to see it a successful regional organization.
