SAARC Programming Committee Holds 62nd Session in Kathmandu

The 62nd Session of the Programming Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) began today at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, under Nepal’s chairmanship.

The two-day meeting has brought together National Focal Points and senior delegates from all SAARC Member States, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, along with high-level officials of the SAARC Secretariat.

The session was inaugurated by Nepal’s Foreign Secretary and Chair of the SAARC Standing Committee, H.E. Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai. In his address, Rai emphasized that Programming Committee meetings play a critical role in keeping the regional body active and focused amid evolving global challenges.

He noted that, at a time marked by uncertainty in the international order, regional cooperation is “not merely desirable but essential,” serving as a bridge between national priorities and global processes while enabling collective regional solutions.

Reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to SAARC, Rai advocated a gradual, step-by-step approach to resuming pending meetings and activities. He stressed that adopting a pragmatic, flexible, and forward-looking approach would help ensure that SAARC, along with its Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies, remains capable of addressing emerging challenges and delivering tangible benefits to the people of South Asia.

In his welcome remarks, SAARC Secretary General H.E. Md. Golam Sarwar expressed appreciation to the Government of Nepal and Member States for their continued engagement and support.

Recalling the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the SAARC Charter Adoption on 8 December 2025, Sarwar highlighted the organization’s four-decade legacy of friendship, goodwill, and regional progress. He called for renewed momentum to transform the “aspiration” of cooperation into a “reality” of practical outcomes.

Acknowledging the prolonged pause in higher-level meetings, the Secretary General described the Programming Committee as the “lifeline” that has sustained SAARC’s institutional continuity and urged Member States to work collectively toward a stronger and more integrated regional organization.

During the session, delegates are expected to deliberate on several important matters, including approval of the SAARC Secretariat’s budget and programmes for 2026, finalization of the SAARC Calendar of Activities, and decisions related to convening the next Programming Committee session.

The meeting is seen as part of ongoing efforts to maintain functional cooperation among South Asian nations and to gradually reinvigorate regional collaboration mechanisms.