(FM emphasizes on benefitting immense opportunities of trade linkages among SAARC states)

ISLAMABAD:Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has emphasized on benefitting the immense opportunities of promotion of trade linkages among the member states of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Talking to SAARC Secretary General Esala Ruwan Weerakoon here on Wednesday, he said Pakistan supports enhancing of land, air and sea linkages among the SAARC countries. He said Pakistan, being a founding member of the SAARC, desires active and efficient role of the organization for promotion of regional cooperation.

He said a comprehensive and effective strategy needs to be developed to address the common challenges of epidemic, climate change and food security through the SAARC platform. He said Pakistan is focused on geographical economic priorities.

Expressing deep grief and sorrow over lynching of Sri Lankan Priyantha Kumara in Sialkot, the Foreign Minister said the entire political leadership, religious scholars and the Pakistani nation have condemned the incident. He assured the SAARC Secretary General that Pakistan government will take the perpetrators of the incident to the task.