By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: A meeting held on the sidelines of the South Asia Federation of Accountants (SAFA) Conference in the region focused on expanding regional economic cooperation, with Pakistan’s leadership emphasizing the need for deeper connectivity and stronger institutional links across South Asia.
Ishaq Dar attended the gathering and underlined what he described as the untapped economic potential of the region, saying it could only be realized through sustained collaboration among professional bodies, regulators and economic institutions. He said closer coordination could help stimulate shared growth, encourage innovation and strengthen people-to-people linkages across borders.
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional stability and sustainable development, noting that constructive engagement remained essential for long-term prosperity. He said enhanced institutional cooperation could pave the way towards a more integrated South Asia, where economic partnerships would support broader peace and development objectives.
The meeting was held in the presence of senior representatives from across the region, including Humayun Kabeer, Prabhin Jah and Ashfaq Tola. Participants also included leaders from major professional accounting organizations such as ICMAP, ICAB, ICMAB, ICASL and ICAP, alongside other office-bearers from across South Asia.
Senior professional figures, including Azeem Siddiqui and N K Mobin, were also present, reflecting what officials described as a broad regional consensus on strengthening cooperation within the accounting and financial governance sectors.
Dar emphasized that collaboration among such bodies could play a decisive role in unlocking regional economic potential, improving standards of financial governance and reinforcing trust between South Asian economies.
