Dar invites SAARC FMs to attend Aug. 26 meeting in Islamabad

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has extended invitation to his counterparts in South Asian countries to attend the eighth Finance Ministers' meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) scheduled to be held in Islamabad on August 26 this year.

The Finance Ministers' meeting will precede the SAARC Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan in November 2016.

The eighth Finance Ministers' meeting will lay the ground work for progress on regional cooperation agenda in the areas of finance and investment to be subsequently endorsed by the heads of states and government at the SAARC Summit.

In letters addressed to the Finance Ministers of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Dar stated that considerable progress has been achieved in finance and investment related areas since last year's meeting in Kathmandu.

He further stated that certain other areas related to SAARC Development Fund (SDF) required further deliberations and follow-up action, reports the Express Tribune.

Dar expressed hope that participation of all the members would be helpful in achieving the objectives for which SAARC has been striving since its creation.