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The Second Meeting of the SAARC Inter-Governmental Expert Group on Poverty Alleviation to finalize the first SAARC Development Report with the theme “SDR 2025: Shaping the Future Together for a Resilient SAARC” was held in Malé, Maldives on Thursday, the SAARC Secretariat stated. 

The meeting was hosted by the Government of the Maldives with the financial and technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The meeting was attended by delegations from the SAARC Member States comprising senior officials of the Ministries/ Agencies responsible for development issues as well as Foreign Ministries.

The meeting was opened by Prathma Uprety, Director (Information and Poverty Alleviation) at the SAARC Secretariat, representing the Secretary General of SAARC. 

In her remarks, she expressed gratitude to the Government of Maldives for hosting the meeting and to the Asian Development Bank for its continued support in advancing regional cooperation.

Speaking at the opening session, Chief Guest Hussain Imran Abdul Muhaimin, Minister of State for Finance and Public Enterprises of the Republic of Maldives emphasized the importance of the first SAARC Development Report. 

He noted the significance of hosting the meeting in the Maldives, highlighting that as a small island developing state, the country reflects both development progress and structural vulnerabilities, and underlined the need for resilient and inclusive development strategies.

Addressing the opening session, Dongxiang Li, Lead Regional Cooperation Specialist of ADB, reaffirmed ADB’s continued commitment as a longstanding development partner of SAARC.

Delegations from the Member States presented their respective national perspectives and priorities for the finalization of the SAARC Development Report, highlighting in particular their visions of a Resilient SAARC through deepened regional collaboration aimed at addressing shared vulnerabilities, fostering collective resilience, and promoting inclusive growth across the region.

The meeting was chaired by Ali Rasheed, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises of the Republic of Maldives. 

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a report.

The District Police Office, Chitwan, has taken 113 individuals under control by launching a 'special sweep operation'.

Such a number of individuals were taken under control on Thursday for their involvement in drug smuggling, disturbing peace under the influence of alcohol, creating trouble for passengers, making obstacles in service delivery at government offices and riding modifying vehicles. 

The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is being marked all over the world today. 

The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace seeks to reaffirm the UN Charter and its principles of resolving disputes among countries through peaceful means and acknowledges the use of multilateral decision-making and diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts among nations.

According to the UN, multilateralism is part of the United Nations' DNA. 

The Charter does not simply define the structure, mission and functioning of the Organization. It is one of the pillars of the international system in which we live today.

Commitment to multilateralism and international peace and security was reaffirmed by most world leaders in the UN General Debate in 2018. 

This commitment was reinforced in the discussion during the High-level Dialogue on Renewing the Commitment to Multilateralism on 31 October 2018, it is said.

The experts and scholars have called for effective coordination among federal, provincial and local governments to implement climate adaptation programs at the community level, and to reduce climate change risks. 

In the 7th National Conference concluded in Lamahi of Dang district on Thursday, the speakers said the roles of local government and community should be made vibrant. 

The conference was held under the theme 'Bridging Policy and Practice: Harmonizing Climate Governance' that brought the government officials, policymakers, scholars and development partners together. 

They said that the gap between climate policies and practices should be narrowed down.

Inaugurating the conference, Minister for Forest and Environment of Lumbini Province Dev Karan Prasad Kalawar viewed for the expansion of the adaptation programs at the community level to reduce climate change impacts.    

Vice Chairman of Provincial Planning Commission of Lumbini Province Dr Dilliraj Aryal said climate change is a crosscutting issue and Nepal is experiencing its impacts despite our negligible contributions to carbon emissions.