Friday, February 11 2005 09:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan's Cabinet today (Feb 11, 2005) expressed disappointment over the postponement of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) summit, which was scheduled to be held in Dhaka on Feb 6-7 and hoped the summit would be held soon after finalisation of dates in consultation with the member countries.

A resolution passed by the Cabinet meeting presided over by Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that it "reiterated its commitment to SAARC as a forum whose deliberations plays important role in shaping up the destiny of the people of the member countries".

The summit was postponed following the decision by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to attend it, citing the security situation in Dhaka and political developments in Nepal.

The Cabinet also approved Government's decision to approach the World Bank for arbitration on Baglihar hydro-power project being built by India in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Pakistan was not seeking any favour or help from World Bank but wants a decision to be made on merit.

World Bank President James Wofensohn, who was in Islamabad on a visit this week said that the Bank might appoint a neutral expert in two weeks time.