62nd SAARC Programming Committee Opens in Kathmandu

The 62nd session of the Programming Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) started on Wednesday in Kathmandu, according to the SAARC Secretariat.

The meeting, held under Nepal’s chairmanship, is scheduled to end today. It brings together National Focal Points and delegates from all SAARC member countries, along with senior officials from the SAARC Secretariat.

At the opening, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai highlighted the importance of these meetings in keeping SAARC active and focused. He said regional cooperation is not just “desirable but necessary,” as it connects national efforts with global initiatives and offers a platform for joint regional solutions.

Rai also expressed Nepal’s strong belief in the continued importance of SAARC. He suggested a gradual and step-by-step approach to restarting pending meetings. He added that a practical, flexible, and forward-looking approach would help SAARC and its regional centers remain capable of handling new challenges and bringing real benefits to people in the region.

SAARC Secretary General Md. Golam Sarwar also called for a more active future, encouraging practical actions to turn the vision of regional cooperation into real progress.