Kathmandu, Nov 27: The 61st Session of the Programming Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) commenced on Wednesday.
The meeting, being held virtually, brings together senior officials from Member States, Heads of SAARC Specialized Bodies and Regional Centres, as well as senior representatives from the SAARC Secretariat.
Chaired by Nepal, the session is attended by the National Focal Points of the SAARC Member States, consisting of Joint Secretaries and Director Generals from the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, according to a press statement issued by the SAARC Secretariat.
The session was formally opened by Kiran Shakya, Joint Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the SAARC Programming Committee. In his opening remarks, he highlighted that SAARC, as the region’s premier organization, continues to serve as a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration and collective action among Member States.
He emphasized that the gathering underscores SAARC’s importance as a regional mechanism to address shared challenges, harness opportunities, and ensure its continued relevance through institutional strengthening and activities that deliver tangible benefits to the people of South Asia.
Addressing the meeting, SAARC Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar expressed gratitude to the Member States for their steadfast support. He stated that the pivotal role of the Programming Committee, as an important Charter Body of SAARC, cannot be overstated.
He reiterated that SAARC was founded on the conviction that through cooperation and shared purpose, South Asian nations can achieve more together than individually. He also noted that SAARC will soon commemorate the 40th anniversary of the adoption of its Charter—an occasion not only for pride but also for reflection on its achievements, challenges and future direction.
During the session, the Committee will review and finalize the budgets and Calendars of Activities of SAARC Specialized Bodies and Regional Centres for 2026. #nepal #SAARC
