ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: Pakistan has been unanimously elected as president of the Colombo Plan Council for 2006-07 in its 253rd session held in Colombo.

According to Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Colombo, the Council also decided that Pakistan would take over the presidency from Nov 15 after the 40th consultative committee meeting scheduled to be held in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Nov 7-8 this year.

AVM (retd) Shahzad A. Chaudhry, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka thanked the representatives of the member countries for their unanimous support and trust reposed in him and assured them of pursuing the goals and objectives of the council with vigor.

He also complimented his predecessor for his valuable contribution as the former president of the council.

The Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social Development in Asia-Pacific is a inter-governmental organisation established in 1951 to enhance regional economic and social development.

Pakistan is its founding member. Over the years, the membership of the Council has grown from original seven Commonwealth countries to the current 25, comprising countries belonging to regional groupings such as Asean and Saarc.

The Colombo Plan is a concept which seeks to promote both individual and cooperative assistance in development aimed at socio economic progress of its member countries.

The council identifies important issues facing its members and ensures the implementation of the consultative committees directives.

It is represented by heads of diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka.—APP