SAARC SIXTY-SECOND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE MEETING CONVENES IN KATHMANDU

The 62^nd Session of the Programming Committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) commenced today at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal. The meeting is being held under the Chairmanship of Nepal from 11 to 12 February 2026, and brings together the National Focal Points as well as distinguished delegates of the SAARC Member States, viz., Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, along with senior officials of the Secretariat.

02. The Session was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Amrit Bahadur Rai, Foreign Secretary of Nepal and Chair of the SAARC Standing Committee. In his inaugural address, H.E. Mr. Rai underscored the vital role of Programming Committee meetings in keeping SAARC functional and focused. In the wake of multiple challenges and uncertainties confronting the global order today, he maintained that regional cooperation is not merely 'desirable but also essential', as it serves as a bridge between national efforts and global processes and provides a platform for collective regional solutions. Reaffirming Nepal's strong belief in the continued relevance of SAARC, he suggested a gradual, step-by-step approach to resuming pending meetings. He also emphasized that a pragmatic, flexible and forward-looking approach would go a long way in ensuring that SAARC, along with its Regional Centres and Specialized Bodies, remain able and empowered to address emerging challenges and deliver tangible results for the benefit of the people of the region.

03. In his welcome remarks, H.E. Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC, thanked the Chair, the Government of Nepal, and the Member States for their steadfast and continued commitment. He briefly recalled the commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the SAARC Charter Adoption on 8 December 2025, which celebrated the forty-year-long legacy of friendship, goodwill and progress, and urged for a more dynamic future where practical steps could be taken to turn the 'aspiration' of cooperation into the 'reality' of progress. In an era where higher-level meetings have faced an extended hiatus, he hailed the Programming Committee as the lifeline of SAARC that has helped keep the promise of the SAARC Charter alive. He renewed his call to work together to ensure that SAARC of tomorrow is stronger and more integrated than ever before.

04. During the Session, the Committee is expected to deliberate on several important agenda items, including the consideration and approval of the budgets and programmes of the SAARC Secretariat for the year 2026, the finalization of the SAARC Calendar of Activities, and decisions regarding the next session of the Programming Committee.

SAARC Secretariat
Kathmandu, 11 February 2026