Sri Lankan President's Special Envoy G. S. Palihakkara, who is Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka, has met Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, according to an official statement. The prime minister emphasized the need to take more measures to make the seven-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) an effective and vibrant organization to ensure progress and prosperity in the region. They also discussed matters pertaining to bilateral relations and SAARC. Aziz said there is still great potential for enhancing SAARC's role in the development and prosperity of the region. The prime minister stressed the need for strengthening the SAARC Secretariat to ensure the implementation of decisions taken by SAARC summit. He said with dedication and commitment, the SAARC secretariat would be made more effective and vibrant. Aziz said the SAARC countries should benefit from each other's expertise to accelerate the process of cooperation for development. The prime minister said Pakistan and Sri Lanka should also enhance trade and promote commercial and economic relations. He said the next SAARC summit to be held in Dhaka in January next year would play an effective role in mutual cooperation for development and prosperity in the region.
