Easing visa norm, coop in counter-terrorism on Saarc agenda

The Saarc countries, at the home minister''s conference in Islamabad in June 2010, had also agreed to step up cooperation in fight against terror and consider a proposal to form a Saarc Police force (SAARCPOL) on the pattern of Interpol.

These proposals are expected to be discussed further at the upcoming meet. Aspects related to the Saarc food bank are also expected to be deliberated upon amid requests from some countries that the threshold of the items to be drawn from it needed to be brought down so that the bank could serve its utility better. Utilisation of the South Asia Development Fund is also expected to be discussed. Three projects have already been identified for implementation under the fund, including a teachers' training programme in Pakistan. SAARC Secretary General Sheelkant Sharma said the progress made in the last two years is "not insignificant" although he would have like more to happen on the South Asia Development Fund implementation. India has already contributed about 90 million US dollars besides 100 million US dollars as voluntary contribution to the fund.