Saturday, October 15 2005 10:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan, the outgoing SAARC Chairman, yesterday (Oct 14, 2005) announced postponement of next week's meeting of the bloc's Commerce Ministers here due to the destruction caused by the earthquake but said it was looking forward to attend the November 12-13 summit of the grouping in Dhaka.

"Despite the difficult situation and widespread devastation in earthquake, Pakistan is committed to keep the SAARC process moving and is looking forward to attend the Thirteenth SAARC Summit from November 12-13 at Dhaka," a statement by the Pakistan Foreign Office said.

Pakistan, however, postponed the SAARC Commerce Ministers' meeting to be held here before the summit.

"The Government of Pakistan was constrained to announce the postponement due to the severe earthquake and destruction caused by it," it said.

The fifth SAARC Commerce Ministers meeting and the one of Eleventh Committee of Experts (COE) on SAFTA was scheduled from October 18-22.

New dates for the meetings will be announced in consultation with the member countries and the SAARC Secretariat, the statement said.