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Summary SAARC Association of Speakers and Parliamentarians can become catalyst to imbue new life in SAARC.
Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza Monday while addressing formal opening speech at General Assembly of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians said, “Through our regular and more frequent meetings, our forum can bring the focus on issues of urgent importance, which affect the daily lives of our people. I am pleased to note that since our last meeting in New Delhi in 2011, all our member Parliaments have shown determination to benefit from the Association.”She added that the principles of SAARC Charter had been guiding our governments to seek for a peaceful, progressive and democratic South Asia by “promoting the welfare of the peoples in mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems”.“However, the gap between the promise of SAARC and the reality of its accomplishment still remains large” she observed adding, “This gape can be filled through accelerated people-to-people contacts. As the representatives of the people, parliamentarians are the ideal agents of change.She said that in its over two decades of existence, SAARC had been instrumental in promoting regional integration through sustained dialogue and cooperation in diverse fields of economic and human development, environment and climate concerns, science, technology, culture and tourism.She said that she was also delighted to share with you the decisions of yesterday’s Meeting of the Speaker’s Council. The Council received a message from the first-ever meeting of Women Parliamentarians, whereby it was informed that women legislators have agreed on setting up a permanent “Women’s Committee of SAARC Association of Speakers and Parliamentarians.”“The Council has agreed to the suggestion” she said saying, “It will now be formalised through an amendment in the Charter and Rules of Association. I request the Secretary General of our Association to take up the matter at the earliest.Speaker added that the Council also discussed ways and means to encourage young parliamentarians from its platform. It was decided that the Committee of Secretaries General and Secretaries would present a detailed plan of action in this regard in our next Conference in 2013 in Male, the Maldives.“These are indeed positive developments and reflect our common desire to promote and strengthen our mutual parliamentary contact” she noted adding,” I hope that Islamabad Conference provides the worthy delegates a perfect setting to discuss matters placed before this Conference in friendship and candour. In my capacity as the President of this august Assembly, I look forward to a meaningful outcome of the 6th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians and wish this Conference the very best.Indeed it is an honour for me to assume the Chair of the President of the 6th Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians” she said adding that the Parliament of Pakistan was privileged to hold this important regional parliamentary event and on its behalf, she once again warmly welcomed the worthy Presiding Officers and their delegations to our beautiful Capital, Islamabad.Abdul Hamid, Speaker of the Jatiyo Sansad of the Republic of Bangladesh, Jig-MayTshul-tim, Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan, Smt. Meera Kumar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Republic of India, Abdulla Shahid, Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Republic of the Maldives, Chandima Weerak-ko-day, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Sri Lanka, Parliamentarians, delegates, Observers and Secretaries-Generals were present on the occasion.
