(a) whether the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission recently visited Pakistan to take part in the SAARC Finance and Planning Ministers meet on poverty eradication;
(b) if so, the issues discussed at the meet, the views expressed by the Indian delegation on those issues and the outcome thereof;
(c) whether the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission also met the President of Pakistan on the side lines of meet;
(d) if so, the details of the views exchanged with him; and
(e) the outcome thereof?
THE MINSTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The Conference discussed the issue of poverty in South Asia and ways and means of tackling this problem on a regional basis. Our delegation apprised the Conference of the experience of India on this subject. The conference issued an Action Plan containing concrete ideas and recommendations for implementation.
(c), (d) & (e) Deputy Chairman of our Planning Commission paid a courtesy call on the President of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf along with other SAARC Ministers.