ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Social and economic issues are likely to dominate the forthcoming summit in Islamabad of the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, according to Saarc Secretary-General Qamar Ahmed Rahim.

In a Dawn Dialogue interview during a visit here last week, Mr Rahim said Saarc was steadily moving in the right direction.

Mr Rahim, whose tenure as the Saarc secretary-general ends in January 2005, talked candidly about a host of key issues pertaining to Saarc. He was optimistic about the outcome of next month’s summit, saying there were promising signs on all fronts.