ISLAMABAD, March 8: Saarc countries have agreed to form a joint task force to combat trafficking of women and children and evolve strategies against the spread of drug use, prevent human casualties in natural calamities and policies for disaster mitigation.

The first meeting of the heads of national coordination committees to implement the Saarc Social Charter was held here on Wednesday.

Participants of the meeting observed that human trafficking, particularly of children and women, was increasing in the poverty-stricken region and governments should form joint strategies to check the problem.

The seven-member South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) also called for joint action to tackle the spread of drug addiction in the region and cooperation in manufacturing of essential drugs and medical supplies among the member states.