Islamabad: Pakistan today (Nov 29, 2004) said it has prepared a comprehensive National Plan of Action to implement the Social Charter adopted by the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) in January this year aimed at alleviating poverty and improving health and education facilities in the region.

"The Government has introduced most important reforms to ensure devolution of governance from provincial to district, tehsil and union council levels to achieve the goals of the Plan of Action," Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtyar said inaugurating a two-day workshop on Pakistan's National Plan of Action to implement the SAARC Social Charter in Islamabad.

The progress towards achievement of gender parity in literacy, employment and political participation has been achieved by increasing the share of women in Assemblies and even in local Government institutions, he said.

"Pakistan could take pride at the progress SAARC has made during past one year of its chairmanship," Bakhtyar said adding the 12th SAARC summit held in Islamabad had energised the forum as the summit took some bold and encouraging decisions, including the adoption of Islamabad Declaration and signing of SAFTA (South Asia Free Trade Arrangement) and the Social Charter.

Bakhtyar said Pakistan has taken several initiatives to maintain the momentum in regional cooperation in the belief that South Asia's 1.5 billion people could not be left behind in the race for progress and development.

The SAARC Social Charter is an ambitious document and a culmination of consultations, intensive discussions and exchange of views among the member countries for several years, the Minister said.