The 53rd Session of the SAARC Programming Committee has commenced in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.
The two-day meeting, being held under the chairmanship of Nepal, will consider and make recommendations on matters related to Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies of SAARC such as the South Asian University, the SAARC Development Fund, SAARC Arbitration Council and the South Asian Standardization Organisation, according to the Foreign Ministry. The Committee will also deliberate on matters related to important areas of cooperation such as agriculture, rural development, terrorism, narcotic drugs, social affairs, information and media.
The delegation of the Maldives to the Programming Committee is headed by Aishath Azeema, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is accompanied by Ismail Mamdhooh, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.