Two-day South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) secretaries meeting on poverty alleviation would be held on March 28-29 to discuss the progress in implementing Saarc "Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation".
The Planning Commission of Pakistan is hosting the fourth Saarc secretaries meeting. The first meeting was held in Colombo, second meeting hosted by Maldives, while third was hosted by India. The meeting will provide a forum for discussion and exchange of information and experiences of Saarc countries for poverty alleviation policies and strategies, programmes and projects adopted by member countries.
The forum will discuss progress in implementing the Saarc "Poverty Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation" including good governance through improved public sector management and delivery system, particularly in areas that affect the poor, pursuing sound macro-economic management policies through focus on quality and pattern of growth, enriching concept of human development through adoption of Bhutan's philosophy of promoting `Gross National Happiness' through equitable socio-economic development would be discussed.
It will also discuss combating poverty through promotion of employment in small and medium enterprises, micro-finance institutions and tourism sector and promoting multiculturalism, pluralism and mass education through gender equality and empowerment of women, vocational and technical training and skill up-gradation. The forum will discuss expanding social safety nets through schemes targeting the poorest and the most vulnerable by introducing old age benefits, disability benefits and benefits on the death of the primary bread earner and investing in human capital and social sectors through encouragement of private sector investment in education and health.
Saarc meeting will mull upon exercising prudence in allocating public resources and strengthen domestic resource mobilisation through prioritisation of public expenditure and increased domestic revenue to reduce the dependence on Overseas Development Assistance, empowering local communities and governments through decentralisation, financial devolution and community participation, strengthening poverty alleviation programs through building up the physical assets for the poor, including grant assistance to the indigent for purchase of small capital assets. Expanding intra-regional trade and capital flows and faster movement towards SAFTA, learning from each other's experiences through exchange of best practices would also be discussed.
The forum will also discuss Saarc Development Goals, their achieving ability by 2012 through launching appropriate policies/programmes and projects. The food security challenges for the poor and social inclusion, being the theme of Regional Poverty Profile (RPP) 2009 will also be discussed.
The Saarc Forum will provide an opportunity for mutual co-operation for reducing poverty.
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