Islamabad: SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) today (July 19, 2004) decided to seek 'observer' status at the United Nations.

The SAARC Standing Committee agreed that Permanent Representatives of the seven member states at the UN in New York be directed to "take action for abstaining observer status" at the world body, Pakistan's Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the Committee Riaz Khokhar said.

Addressing the 30th session of the Committee, he said Pakistan's Permanent Representative, as SAARC Chairman, has been mandated to coordinate efforts in this regard.

Khokhar said it also recommended that a ministerial meeting on combating terrorism and trans-national crimes including drug and human trafficking be convened at an early date.

It welcomed the offer by Bangladesh to host the meeting, the Pakistan Foreign Secretary said, observing that Pakistan has also offered to host a SAARC Energy Ministers' Forum and a SAARC Energy Centre.

The Committee also approved a host of proposals on cooperation in the fields of higher education, health, media, town planning and women's empowerment, he added.