July 16, 2008	Wednesday	Rajab 12, 1429

KARACHI, July 15: A 50-member delegation from Pakistan will participate in the South Asian People’s Assembly, also known as the People’s Saarc, scheduled for July 18 to July 20 in Colombo, just a week ahead of the official summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

Over 500 delegates comprising activists of people’s movements, political groups, civil society organisations, intellectuals, cultural practitioners and parliamentarians are expected to come from Saarc member states for the upcoming assembly to forge solidarity and alliance between people of their countries for democracy, justice and peace in the region.

This time the assembly is putting forth the idea of a South Asian Union. The highlights of the event include numerous workshops under the theme of ‘movements, resistance, alternatives’, cultural events and a mass rally on the last day.

The people’s assembly started in 1993 as a parallel event to the official Saarc summit where heads of the member states meet annually in a South Asian country. — Our Reporter