South Asian Regional Cooperation Association Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golan Sarwar visits Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Wednesday. — PMO
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday highlighted the importance of reviving regional cooperation in a meeting with outgoing South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Secretary General Ambassador Golam Sarwar.
A press release issued today by the Prime Minister’s Office said the Prime Minister met the Saarc chief at the Prime Minister’s House.
“The Prime Minister appreciated the dedicated service and leadership of the Secretary General in advancing regional cooperation during his tenure as Secretary General of SAARC.
“He reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to the Saarc Charter and underlined the importance of revitalizing regional cooperation to promote connectivity, sustainable development and shared prosperity of the people of South Asia,” the press release said.
Islamabad: July 15, 2026.
Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), HE Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, today paid his farewell visit to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House.
The Prime Minister thanked the… pic.twitter.com/YPxtm6NCZj
– Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 15, 2026
He added that the Prime Minister also conveyed his best wishes for Sarwar’s future endeavours, while the latter Sarwar thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz for the support Pakistan extended to him during his tenure.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also called for the revitalization of Saarc a day ago in his meeting with Sarwar, urging member states to uphold the bloc’s founding charter to promote regional connectivity, sustainable development and collective well-being of the people of South Asia.
He highlighted the immense demographic and economic potential of the region and reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to the Saarc process. Foreign Minister Dar praised the Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen regional cooperation among South Asian nations.
SAARC Secretary General HE Dr Golam Sarwar today called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
DPM/FM praised the efforts of the Secretary General to promote regional cooperation and… pic.twitter.com/acbuupXgJF
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 14, 2026
Saarc, which is an eight-member organization, was established in 1985 to promote socio-economic and cultural development throughout South Asia.
The organization has faced significant challenges in recent years, mainly arising from tensions between India and Pakistan, and consequently, no SAARC summit has been held since 2014.
According to the Saarc Charter, consensus is required among all member states to organize a meeting of heads of government.
