Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has urged political leadership of South Asia to show courage, flexibility and statesmanship to dismantle political barriers and resolve inter-state conflicts for laying the foundations of a regional economic take off. There is immense scope of collaboration in the spheres of culture, sports, tourism, education, research, human resource development, poverty alleviation and environment among the SAARC member countries, he said while addressing the annual conference of the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) at the Governor House here Tuesday.
The Prime Minister stressed for collective wisdom to evolve a South Asian vision and fraternity, adding that SAARC members must develop home-grown solutions to overcome poverty, unemployment and economic disparity.
Underlining the need for close bilateral ties, he said SAARC members must allow greater interaction among the policy-makers, parliamentarians, businessmen, media practitioners, professionals and the leaders of civil society.
Stressing the need to overcome information deficit among the member countries, he said all restrictions on access to free flow of information should be removed and media persons and products be allowed for free movement across the frontiers.
Diversity among the member countries needs to be employed to accelerate the process of development through greater bilateral connectivity, he said.
The Prime Minister regretted the fact that the region lags behind the world despite immense natural and human resources, adding that South Asia is still deprived of basic health and educational facilities.
The Prime Minister said South Asia could also do well by learning from the global best practices and apply them to regional context for the welfare of its people - a common cause for all member countries.
Stressing the need for collective effort for betterment of the region, he said history will not forgive us if member countries continue to be bogged down by narrow considerations, adding that 1.2 billion People of South Asia expect their leaders to exercise vision, statesmanship and think out of box to put SAARC in the league of other groupings.
Nothing can be achieved if we do not open our minds to each other and allow connectivity to flourish, Raja stressed.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan attaches great importance to SAARC and is committed to the principles and objectives of the SAARC Charter, stressing that Pakistan has played a proactive role to make SAARC a model of regional cooperation, based on the principles of sovereign equality.
About bilateral trade ties, Raja said Pakistan supports liberalization of intra-SAARC trade and looks forward to increasing our bilateral and multilateral trade with member countries of the SAARC region.
He said cross-border trade could help overcome poverty and strengthen economies. SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme has been instrumental in promoting people to people contact including businessmen and media persons, he added.
Urging the need for reconciliation, the PM said PPP-led coalition government practiced the policy of reconciliation from its inception, adding that reconciliation is the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
Raja said conflict over disputes must give way to reconciliation, connectivity, openness and regional cooperation, adding that collective well-being of people of South Asia cannot be left at the mercy of any one country.We need to resolve all political and economic issues with an open mind and sincerity of purpose, he added.
Raja urged SAARC to step up efforts for regional energy security through sharing of indigenous sources and technology, adding that SAARC needs to develop a comprehensive and holistic regional strategy.
He stressed the need to evolve sustainable mechanisms to translate objectives of SAARC into reality as well as turn SAARC into a formidable regional body which could rub shoulders with other similar regional bodies.
The Prime Minister called upon the media men play their role in educating people on the socio-economic advantages of cooperation among the member states and guide government for a conducive environment which could put all the countries on the path of development.
Prime Minister also acknowledged the role of SAFMA in promoting peace and regional cooperation in the South Asia. Punjab Governor Makhdum Syed Ahmad Mahmud, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister Syed Khurshid Shah, SAFMA President (Pakistan Chapter), Nustrat Javed, SAFMA Secretary, Imtiaz Alam, delegates from SAARC countries, and a large number of media men were present during the ceremony.
(APP)
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