The sixth meeting of Saarc home ministers, including home secretaries and immigration officials, will kick off in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

As per the schedule, immigration officials from Saarc member countries are meeting on Wednesday followed by Saarc home secretary level meeting on Thursday, said the Home Ministry in a statement.

Issues like suppression of terrorism, maritime security, piracy, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, combating corruption and cyber crimes will be discussed at the ministerial-level and official-level meetings of the law enforcement authorities of the Saarc countries.  Other issues to be discussed at the conference include mutual assistance in criminal matters, trafficking of women and children, and promotion of child welfare in South Asia, said the officials.

“The meeting will reinforce the past accord in priority and come up with a common commitment for suppression of terrorism in the region, trafficking of drug and narcotics, corruption, cyber crime, human trafficking,” said the statement issued by the home ministry.

To participate in the meeting, officials from Saarc member states have started arriving to Kathmandu . Interior Minister of Pakistan Chaudary Nisar Ali Khan, however, has postponed the visit owing to the devastating floods in Panjab province of Pakistan that affected over one million people and killed more than 275 .

Ahead of the Saarc Summit, the host countries generally host the meeting of Saarc home ministers. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is expected to inaugurate the home minister-level meeting at Hotel Hyatt Regency. The meeting will be chaired by Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam while the secretary-level meeting will be headed by Home Secretary Surya Silwal, and the meeting of immigration officials by Director General of Department of Immigration Sudarshan Dhakal.

The meeting of Saarc home minister will look into reports forwarded by home secretary. Similarly, the immigration officials provide inputs to the home secretary-level meeting. The meeting has been taking place since 2006. Nepal is the first-time host.

Published on: 17 September 2014 | The Kathmandu Post