Dhaka, August 28 — Interim government Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called on Pakistan to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to enhance regional cooperation in South Asia. This request was made during a courtesy visit by Pakistan's High Commissioner to Dhaka, Syed Ahmad Maruf, at the Rashtriya Guest House Yamuna on Tuesday.

Dr. Yunus emphasized that, like the European Union, SAARC could serve as a model for regional cooperation, fostering mutual benefits among member countries. He urged Pakistan to work collaboratively to revitalize the organization, which has been largely inactive in recent years due to political tensions between member states.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Ahmad Maruf stressed the importance of reviving trade, economic relations, and people-to-people contacts between Bangladesh and Pakistan. He highlighted the need to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation on multilateral platforms, expressing Pakistan's interest in working together with Bangladesh on these fronts.

The High Commissioner also conveyed the concerns of Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan over the recent devastating floods in Bangladesh, expressing Pakistan's readiness to provide assistance to the affected areas.

Additionally, Ahmad Maruf called for simplifying the visa process for Pakistani citizens traveling to Bangladesh and suggested establishing direct flights between the two countries to facilitate easier movement and strengthen bilateral ties.

The meeting concluded with the High Commissioner congratulating the Bangladesh cricket team on their historic first Test win against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, highlighting the potential for sports to further strengthen the relationship between the two nations.