LAHORE, March 12: Federal Education Minister Zubaida Jalal has called upon the South Asian writers to chart a practicable roadmap to achieve the goals of the association.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day Saarc Writers conference at Alhamra on Saturday, the minister averred that Pakistan was committed to the principles and objectives of Saarc.

She said the 12th Saarc Summit in Islamabad in January last was a great success, whose main achievement was the delineation of a future course of action.

The Islamabad Declaration, Social Charter, SAFTA Framework agreement and the additional protocol on terrorism would go a long way in promoting meaningful cooperation and economic development in South Asia.

She said the Saarc writers had been making various proposals for closer interaction through exchange of programmes.

She hoped the Lahore conference would prove a landmark in the Saarc writers efforts for strengthening the sinews of civil society in the region.

Saarc Writers Foundation chief Ms Ajeet Cour of India said the writers had not only to stand up against any evil design, but also comprehend horrible fallout in their countries. "We are becoming less tolerant," she regretted.

She said the writers were here to strengthen a bondage among like-minded creative artists and intellectuals from the seven Saarc countries, resolving to stand up as a unifying body with our firm belief in peace and tranquillity. "We are here to raise a collective voice to denounce nuclear weapons."

Dr Mubashar Hassan said "nationalism is the root cause of all conflicts." He said the destiny of a nation was measured in the light of its potential to kill people. During the last century, he said, around 193 million lives were lost in wars.

According to Dr Javed Iqbal, long before the tragic events of 9/11 the process of disturbance of balance of power had started with the fall of the Soviet Union. However, efforts were being made to maintain a balance of power with the formation of the European Union. China was expected to be the a super power within next 25 years.

He said the Saarc countries had different cultures, languages and thinking, but they had one thing in common - that is poverty.

The writers and poets of these countries should join hands to alleviate poverty. Former Indian prime minister V P Singh could not reach Lahore due to his illness, but he sent a message of peace. He said a new ray of hope had been kindled in the relations between India and Pakistan due to the efforts of Saarc.

Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, who is being treated at a hospital, also gave his message, saying the writers could play an important role in creating an environment of peace. "While the politicians put up hurdles in the way of peace, the writers remove them."

The other writers included Tissa Jayatilaka (Sri Lanka), Prof Abi Subedi (Nepal), Abdur Rahim (Bangladesh), Abbes Ibrahim (the Maldives) and Tshering Dorji (Bhutan).

The conference is being organized by the Action Aid Pakistan, the Hawwa Association, the Foundation of Saarc Writers and Literature and the Pakistan Academy of Letters.