PROGRAM

 

March 30

Inaugural session
9.30-11.00

Welcome and Introductions

• Address by Mr. Farhan H. Siddiqi, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi and Workshop Coordinator
• Address by Dr. Martin Axman, Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation
• Address by Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar, Chair of the Department
  Key-Note address by Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo, former Secretary General of SAARC
• Address by Prof. Dr. Prizada, Qasim R. Siddiqi, the Vice-Chancellor
  Vote of thanks by Prof. Saleem Memon, Dean Faculty of Arts

 

Tea/Coffee break: 11.00-11.30 A.M

 

 

Session One: 11.30-1.00

Chair: Mr. Javed Jabbar, Former Federal Minister
Theme: The Concept of Regional Cooperation

1. Regionalism: Myth or Reality? by Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar
2. The Challenge of Regionalism in the Contemporary World by Dr. Maqsoodul Hasan Nuri, Acting President, Islamabad Policy Research Institute, Islamabad

 

Lunch: 1.00-2.00

 

 

Session Two

Chair: Prof. Talat A. Wizarat, former Chairperson, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi
2.00-4.30
Theme: Emergence and Growth of SAARC: Why restructuring is required?

1. The Rationale of Restructuring SAARC: Issues and Modalities. Dr. Shaheen Akhtar, Senior Research Analyst, The Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad
2. SAARC and its fault lines by Ambassador (Retd) Shamshad Ahmed, former Foreign Secretary, Government of Pakistan

 

Tea/Coffee: 4:30

 

March 31

 

Session Three

Chair: Brig. (Retd) Abdur Rehman Siddiqi, Eminent Regional Security Expert
9.30-11.00

Theme: Country Perspectives on Restructuring SAARC

1. Afghanistan by Mr. Ajmal Khan, Senior Research Analyst, Center for Conflict and Peace Studies, Kabul
2. Bangladesh by Dr. Shaheen Afroze, Director Research, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Dhaka
3. India by Prof. Dr. Sahadevan, South Asian Studies Division, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

 

11.00-11.30
Tea/Coffee Break

 

11.30-1.30

Chair: Ambassador Nihal Rodrigo
Session Three (Continued)

1. Pakistan by Mr. Afrasiab, Director General, South Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad
2. Nepal by Mr. Nishchal N. Pandey, Director, Center for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal
3. Sri Lanka by Mr. Sumansari Liyanage, South Asian Peace Institute, Sri Lanka

 

1.30-2.15
Lunch

 

Session Four: 2.15-3.30

Theme: Panel Discussion on the future of SAARC
Chair: Ambassador (Retd) Shamshad Ahmed
3.30-4.15
Findings and Recommendations
Vote of thanks

Tea/Coffee: 4.15