Social charter signed

SAARC member countries signed a landmark agreement on social charter in a bid to improve the socio-economic condition of the region's populace.

SAARC member countries on Sunday signed a landmark agreement on social charter in a bid to improve the socio-economic condition of the region's populace.

HT Image

The charter, signed at the end of the opening session of the 12th SAARC summit here, "reflects the commitment of states to pool efforts at national and regional levels to improve the social and economic conditions of the people", the new SAARC Chairman and Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said.

He said inking of the charter by the seven member states was a concrete step towards assuring the people a life of dignity, security and self-esteem.

"Our endeavour should be that each person is able to fully realise his or her potential", Jamali said, adding the Charter aims at protecting human rights, gender equality, women empowerment and social security.

Following signing of the agreement on the Charter, Jamali adjourned the inaugural meeting of the SAARC summit.