15 January 2004	Thursday	22 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has said the recently concluded 12th Saarc Summit will lead to peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia.

The prime minister was talking to veteran diplomat and Pakistan's former ambassador to the UN, Jamshed Marker, who called on him at the PM House on Wednesday.

He hoped that the next round of talks being held between India and Pakistan the next month would be instrumental in finding ways and means for peaceful and comprehensive settlement to all outstanding issues between them.

Mr Marker felicitated the Prime Minister on organizing the highly successful 12 th Saarc summit and expressed the confidence that it will lead to a new beginning in Southasia, which would hopefully usher in an era of amity and understanding among the member countries.

JAMALI MEETS IRANIAN FM: Prime Minister Jamali has said that the Iranian people have borne the brunt of the recent earthquake courageously. He was talking to the deputy foreign minister of Iran, Mohsin Aminzadeh, who called on him at Prime Minister's House on Wednesday.

Referring to the Pakistan-Iran relations, the prime minister said these were rooted in history and hoped that the friendship would be strengthened further in the days to come.

He expressed his sympathy on the large-scale damage caused by the earthquake in Iran. The deputy foreign minister thanked the prime minister for Pakistan's generous aid and support for the victims of the recent earthquake in Iran. The ambassador also congratulated the prime minister on holding the recent Saarc Summit successfully and undertaking visit to Afghanistan.

A REPORTER ADDS: The prime minister has appreciated the support extended by the UN agencies, especially the UNDP, in the areas of devolution of power, gender, health, education and governance.

He was talking to Dr Hafeez Pasha, the UN assistant secretary-general who called on him at the PM House on Wednesday evening. The prime minister said the continuity and consistency of macroeconomic policies had put Pakistan back on track of growth. This, he said, would ultimately transfer benefits to the common man.

The prime minister thanked the UNDP for extending continued support for devolution and institutional reforms in the country. Dr Pasha appreciated the economic performance shown by Pakistan and said the UNDP and other donors feel encouraged by the achievements in the economic field.

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, secretary economic affairs division Dr Waqar Masood and the resident representative of UN, Onder Yucer, were also present during the meeting.