04 February 2005	Friday	24 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday expressed optimism about setting of new dates for the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and said he was starting contacting the member states as the outgoing chairman of the organization.

Talking to newsmen at Prime Minister's House after meeting the secretary-general of the organization of Islamic Conference, Mr Aziz said Pakistan was disappointed at the postponement of the summit, which would have been a path-breaking event for setting the agenda of regional cooperation, peace and stability.

He said people-to-people contact among Saarc countries should be enhanced as it was key to the economic, trade and social development in the region. Referring to the developments in Nepal, he said Pakistan had very cordial relations with Kathmandu and it believed in the sovereignty and internal independence of Nepal.

He expressed the hope that the internal conditions in Nepal would soon normalize to allow the country to move forward on the road to progress. Replying to a question, he said work on a comprehensive package for Balochistan would start as soon as the parliamentary committee's report in this regard was received.

He expressed the hope that the committee would complete its report soon. The prime minister said the government would continue to make sufficient security arrangements for gas installations. He said the elements which did not want development in the province were creating hurdles in the way of a negotiated settlement of the crisis.