ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: A three-day Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) will be held here on Wednesday to identify areas for promoting trade and cooperation among Saarc member states.

The conference titled “Missing Links in Sustainable Development: South Asian Perspectives”, to be organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, would cover five themes – namely, globalisation, gender, peace and people’s rights, education and environment.

Some 80 reputed national and international scholars, academicians, researchers and activists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, North America, Canada and Europe are likely to attend the conference.

PPI adds: Indian Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will arrive here on Wednesday to attend a two-day Saarc agriculture ministers’ conference.

Mr Pawar is also likely to meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the Press Trust of India reported. The Saarc conference will discuss setting up of a regional food bank and means to enhance cooperation in the agriculture sector.