Nawaz says Pakistan seeks SAARC's viability

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said, "Pakistan continues to believe in the viability of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)." According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the PM expressed these thoughts in his message on the Thirty-First Anniversary of SAARC and the Thirty-Second SAARC Charter Day.
"On behalf of the people and the Government of Pakistan, and that of my own, I wish to felicitate the SAARC Members States and their citizens on the 31st Anniversary of the establishment of SAARC and the 32nd Anniversary of SAARC Charter Day," the PM said.
"We celebrate, today, the spirit with which our leaders, entrusted by the people, worked towards the culmination of the SAARC Charter, and the subsequent establishment of SAARC," he said.
"More than three decades ago, they committed to engage in a collaborative regional effort, geared towards delivering on the promise of a better life for their people," he added. "While SAARC has, albeit survived, it has not triumphed as had been envisaged, falling behind on the commitments and the promises that we had set out to achieve: progress and prosperity for the common good of our people," the PM said.
"We are convinced that only through adhering to the principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect among member states, would we be able to guide SAARC to our cherished goal of a prosperous and developed South Asian region," he expressed. "As its founding member, Pakistan stands steadfastly by the principles of the SAARC Charter. It was in manifestation of the same spirit that Pakistan had made all preparations for hosting the 19th SAARC Summit," he said.
"However, the postponement of the Summit has deprived our people, once more, of the prospects of development, prosperity and regional cooperation," he said. "I take this opportunity to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to the objectives of SAARC and our journey together towards achieving our shared objectives under its umbrella," the PM said. "I sincerely wish all the people of our South Asian region, happiness, harmony, peace and prosperity," he concluded.