(Karachi) Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Pakistan believes in eliminating poverty from South Asia and the potential of regional cooperation for its development.
In his message on 35th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Charter Day on Sunday, Imran Khan said that December 8 marks the day when SAARC Member States worked together for the development and prosperity of South Asia.
The PM maintained, “This day reminds us of the enormous responsibility placed on our shoulders by the people of South Asia and their expectations from their leaders to address the common challenges of poverty, illiteracy, disease and under-development.”
The prime minister said Pakistan believes that it is possible to achieve effective and fruitful regional cooperation while adhering to the principles of equality and mutual respect.
The SAARC charter was signed in Dhaka on December 8, 1985, by seven member states - Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal.
The charter enunciates promotion of peace, stability, progress in the region, fostering mutual understanding and good neighbourly relation among the member countries.
It also calls for enhancing economic, social and technical cooperation among the member states for promoting welfare, improving the quality of life, accelerating growth, cultural development and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential.