SAFMA and PREM Call for Pakistan-India Talks and SAARC Revival
Lahore Seminar Urges Pakistan and India to Resume Dialogue and Reactivate SAARC
PAK-INDIA PEACE & SAARC REVIVAL
Illustration concept: A realistic photograph of a press conference stage in Lahore, featuring civil society leaders seated behind microphones with banners advocating for regional peace and South Asian cooperation.
AI summary
A joint seminar in Lahore hosted by SAFMA and PREM called on Pakistan and India to re-engage in diplomatic dialogue amid evolving global power shifts. SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam also emphasized the urgent need to reactivate the SAARC bloc to secure regional stability and economic growth.
Why this matters
Stalled diplomatic channels between Pakistan and India continue to paralyze regional cooperation under SAARC, limiting economic integration across South Asia. As international power dynamics shift toward a multipolar order, renewed bilateral engagement could provide the stability required for economic development in both nations.
Key takeaways
- Civil society leaders at a Lahore seminar urged Pakistan and India to launch fresh diplomatic efforts.
- SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam stressed that an emerging multipolar global order necessitates regional stability.
- Organizers urged the immediate restoration and reactivation of SAARC to boost South Asian cooperation.
- Peaceful relations were highlighted as the main prerequisite for economic growth and public welfare.
Evolving global power dynamics have heightened the urgency for Pakistan and India to rebuild diplomatic bridges and resume constructive engagement, according to speakers at a public forum in Lahore on Thursday.
The call was raised during a seminar titled 'Give Peace Another Chance,' organized in connection with Independence Day by the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) alongside the Peoples Rights Enforcement Movement (PREM). Participants emphasized that peaceful co-existence remains essential for economic progress across the subcontinent.
Addressing the gathering, SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam highlighted how international relations are transitioning from a single-superpower framework toward a multipolar dynamic. He noted that recent global friction, such as conflict between the United States and Iran, underscores the need for neighboring states to establish stable, peaceful relations.
A central demand of the seminar was the immediate reactivation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Speakers urged both Islamabad and New Delhi to overcome longstanding diplomatic stalemates to breathe fresh life into the regional organization.
According to reports from Business Recorder, participants concluded that sustained peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbors is an indispensable prerequisite for securing long-term prosperity and improving living standards throughout the region.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the purpose of the Lahore seminar?
- The seminar, organized by SAFMA and PREM around Independence Day, aimed to advocate for renewed peace efforts between Pakistan and India and the revival of SAARC.
- Who were the main organizers of the event?
- The event was jointly hosted by the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) and the Peoples Rights Enforcement Movement (PREM).
- Why did Imtiaz Alam emphasize the need for peace talks now?
- Imtiaz Alam pointed to shifting global power dynamics, including transitions from a unipolar to a multipolar world order, as a key reason for Pakistan and India to prioritize diplomatic dialogue.
Source & transparency
- By:
- The Reviser Desk
- Source:
- Business Recorder
- Original publication:
- Aug 14, 2026, 2:46 AM
- The Reviser publication:
- Aug 14, 2026, 2:46 AM
- Updated:
- Aug 14, 2026, 3:01 AM
This report was independently written by The Reviser editorial desk from verified source material. It is not original on-the-ground reporting by The Reviser.
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