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Secretary-General visits Islamabad

May 18, 2012
As part of his introductory visits to Member States, H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC, visited Pakistan from 15 to 17 May 2012.

While in Islamabad, the Secretary-General called on H. E. Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 17 May. The Secretary-General apprised the Prime Minister of the ongoing activities of the Association, particularly those pertaining to the recommendations of the Seventeenth SAARC Summit. At the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed the continued support of his Government to the strengthening of the Association

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April 20, 2012 

On his way back from Maldives following the Fourth Meeting of Health Ministers, H. E. Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Secretary-General of SAARC, stopped over in New Delhi to call on the Indian dignitaries.

The Secretary-General called on Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India on 19 April 2012.The Prime Minister and the Secretary-General discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to SAARC, with particular reference to the directives of the Seventeenth SAARC Summit and their follow-up.At the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed the continued support of India to the strengthening of the Association for the common good of people in the region.

The Secretary-General also met H. E. Mr. Ranjan Mathai, Foreign Secretary of India, over a luncheon on 19 April 2012 itself. In addition to intra-regional trade and connectivity, matters pertaining to the South Asian University and the SAARC Development Fund figured prominently during the meeting.  At the meeting, the Secretary-General also highlighted the pressing need to strengthen the SAARC Secretariat so as to be able to better serve the growing expectations on the organization.

While in New Delhi, the Secretary-General also delivered a talk on South Asian Regional Cooperation at the India International Centre on 20 April 2012. The talk organized by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies was attended by an enthusiastic audience drawn from both the civil society and the government. The talk was followed by a question-answer session revolving around issues as the prospects of regional economic cooperation and intra-regional connectivity.

Mr. Amrit Lugun, Director, SAARC Secretariat was also present at the talk and other meetings in New Delhi.