I am delighted to convey my warm greetings and best wishes on the occasion of the SAARC Charter Day.
Three decades ago, our countries established SAARC with the conviction that regional co-operation among countries of South Asia is mutually beneficial, desirable and necessary for promoting the welfare and improving the quality of life of the people of our region. Since then, SAARC has witnessed steady progress in a wide range of areas identified for co-operation and we can take some pride on our achievements since 1985. Nevertheless, our regular assessment of SAARC has prompted us to appreciate the need for making the organization more result oriented and people centric. The declaration “Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity”, of the 18th SAARC Summit, in fact reflects this collective desire and provides a road map for our forward movement.
