LAHORE: Pakistan will commemorate 35th SAARC Charter Day on December 10 (Tuesday)
to renew commitment to the cherished goals of the organization besides further accelerating the pace
of regional economic cooperation.
The leaders of SAARC nations, the high commissioners, ambassadors from the SAARC member
countries, representatives of the SAARC bodies will also grace the occasion by reiterating the aims and
goals of the SAARC Charter.
The SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI),an apex trade body in the region, will organize
a function in this regard with Advisor to Prime Minister on commerce Abdul Razak Dawood in chair
while SAARC CCI Senior Vice President Iftikhar Ali Malik will present welcome address and President
Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Eng Daroo Khan Achakzai will also
speak besides other prominent businessmen.
On 8 December in 1985 at the first SAARC Summit held in Dhaka, the leaders of the Seven South Asian
Countries: Maldives, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka signed a contract in
order to establish the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Every year, on this day, SAARC Charter Day is observed marking the signing of this Charter. Special
commemorative events are held in each member state, reaffirming their strong commitment towards
SAARC in supporting the uplift of the lives of millions in South Asia.
As an organization in one of the fastest growing economic regions of the world, SAARC embodies the
desire of the people and governments of South Asia to work collectively to promote peace, stability,
amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of sovereignty, equality and
territorial integrity.
