ISLAMABAD, July 16: The 25th session of the programming committee of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) started here on Friday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs director-general (Saarc), Fauzia Sana, will be conducting the two-day proceedings.

In her opening remarks, she said Pakistan was committed to a strong and a viable Saarc. Pakistan, in cooperation with other members of Saarc, would strive to create a new synergy in the economic, commercial, environmental, scientific and cultural spheres, she added.

After becoming chairman of Saarc for 2004, Pakistan Foreign Office designated a director-general to give effective stewardship to the process of regional cooperation.