Pakistan to host top-level SAARC chamber meetings

Pakistan will host top-level 73rd Executive Committee and 22nd General Assembly meetings of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) next month, said a statement Friday.

Vice President of SAARC Chamber's Pakistan chapter Iftikhar Ali Malik said that both meetings will be held in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Feb. 6, which would be chaired by the SAARC Chamber President Suraj Vaidya separately.

Vice presidents from member countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldive, Bhutan and Pakistan along with their delegations will attend the meetings.

The meetings will also take up and finalize SAARC Chamber's proposed initiatives, said the official, adding that new applications from SAARC member countries for membership of SAARC Chamber will also come under discussion.

He said the meetings will also discuss the forthcoming three-day SAARC Business Leaders Conclave scheduled to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal in March this year.

According to the official, formation of SAARC Chamber and China Business Council will also be approved after taking all stakeholders into confidence.

The SAARC Chamber has also decided to celebrate its silver jubilee in all member countries to send a message of goodwill, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and promotion of intra-trade besides fully exploiting all indigenous resources in the region, the official said.