KATHMANDU: The 62nd Session of the Programming Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) started on Wednesday in Kathmandu, the SAARC Secretariat stated.

The meeting is being held under the Chairmanship of Nepal and is scheduled to conclude today, bringing together the National Focal Points as well as delegates of the SAARC Member States along with senior officials of the SAARC Secretariat.

Inaugurating the Session, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai underscored the vital role of Programming Committee meetings in keeping SAARC functional and focused.

According to the SAARC Secretariat, Rai maintained that regional cooperation is not merely ‘desirable but also essential’, as it serves as a bridge between national efforts and global processes and provides a platform for collective regional solutions.

Reaffirming Nepal’s strong belief in the continued relevance of SAARC, he suggested a gradual, step-by-step approach to resuming pending meetings.

Rai emphasized that a pragmatic, flexible and forward-looking approach would go a long way in ensuring that SAARC, along with its Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies, remain able and empowered to address emerging challenges and deliver tangible results for the benefit of the people of the region.

Likewise, Secretary General of SAARC Md. Golam Sarwar urged for a more dynamic future where practical steps could be taken to turn the aspiration of cooperation into the reality of progress.