"The region has a large number of poor and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had dreamt of Saarc for socioeconomic emancipation of these people," she said during talks with the visiting Pakistan Prime Minister and current Chairperson of the Saarc Shaukat Aziz at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the afternoon.

Khaleda said the Saarc member states could contribute to the common fund for which mechanisms can be discussed later on. The Independent South Asian Commission for Poverty Alleviation (ISACPA) can also play a vital role in this regard.

Later talking to journalists, Shaukat Aziz said the Saarc is an important forum and there are two particular areas--one is expansion of trade through Safta in the region and the second is poverty alleviation--where the regional forum can keep significant contribution.

Mentioning a 'tremendous challenge' in the present world, the Pakistan premier said the global situation can be faced with collective effort of the Saarc nations.

Briefing newsmen on the talks, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said during the 45-minute talks, Shaukat Aziz also suggested more interaction and cooperation between the Saarc and other regional forums like European Union (EU) and Association for Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

On bilateral plane, Aziz assured that his country would give all possible support to Bangladesh in the field of trade and commerce. The Pakistani leader also informed the Bangladesh prime minister about some internal matters.

Pakistan's Minister for Commerce Humayun Akhtar Khan, Minister for Industries and Production Jehangir Khan Taren, Minister for Textile Industry Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam and Minister of State forEconomic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar were present during the meeting.

On the host side were Foreign Minister M Morshad Khan, Advisor for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman and Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Kamal Siddiqui.

Earlier, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia received Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on his arrival at Zia International Airport (Zia). He was given a red carpet reception

The Pakistani leader flew in here from Bhutan accompanied by his wife and a 61-member delegation.

DINNER
Bangladesh and Pakistan yesterday agreed on combining their efforts to keep up the momentum generated at the Islamabad Saarc summit to boost cooperation among the South Asian nations in socio-economic sectors.

Addressing a dinner hosted in honour of Pakistani Prime Minister and incumbent Chairman of Saarc Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia pledged total cooperation to go in line with the decisions of the Islamabad meet.

She said the 12th summit in Islamabad succeeded in bringing the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) back on track. "We're attaching great importance to a successful holding of the 13th summit in Dhaka," she said.

Members of the Pakistani prime minister's entourage, ministers and senior officials of Bangladesh attended the dinner at International Conference Centre in the city.