ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Nouraiz Shakoor has called for promoting oil and gas sector in Saarc region by exploiting the rich natural resources and potential for socio and economic prosperity of its people.

Talking to APP here on Saturday, the minister said Saarc region has rich natural resources and potential for development, specially in the oil and gas sector and these could be exploited for the mutual benefit of the people in the region.

The minister welcomed the holding of Saarc summit in Islamabad and expressed the hope it would help boost bilateral relations, besides building confidence among the member countries on various issues of bilateral and regional interests.

"We can also cooperate with each other in promotion of oil and gas sector by using the Saarc platform for socio-economic development of region," he remarked.

He also welcomed the visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to Pakistan for participating in Saarc summit.

He said the visit would help further reduce tension between India and Pakistan and pave the way for closer cooperation and understanding on bilateral issue of Kashmir in order to resolve it peacefully through composite dialogue.

Nouraiz Shakoor also hoped that the member countries would make Saarc an active regional organization and enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation in various sectors for promotion of common good, poverty alleviation and prosperity of the people specially the poor masses in the region.-APP