Call for unleashing South Asian potential

Date : December 9, 2012

ISLAMABAD: 21st-century is the ‘Asian Century’ in which we will witness the dominance of Asian politics, business and culture which calls for governments and private sector to play their due role. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed on Saturday said, “Asia is reverting back to global supremacy in business, knowledge, culture, politics and innovation after 250 years and in the emerging scenario South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations should brace for the change”. Hussain said we should have a South Asian Parliament like European Parliament to ensure rapid development at a seminar ‘Trade and Investment- New Dawn in South Asian Integration’ on the 27th anniversary of SAARC organised by SAARC Chamber in partnership with Friedrich-Nauman Foundation. Senator Haji Adeel said only way to provide relief to majority of the world’s population living in this region was through increased trade and reduced friction. He said a study by the Asian Development Bank found an additional three billion Asians could enjoy living standards similar to those in Europe today. VP SAARC CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik said the region could account for over half of global output by the middle of this century but we were not prepared for it. He said SAARC was created for welfare of the people but political tensions have kept us from destination. Curtailing movement of businessmen has been identified as one of the biggest hurdle in progress of region which is home to 22 percent of world’s population with 45 percent of young people, said Malik. staff report