The eight SAARC countries, including India, today decided to extend the target of the grouping's development goals to 2015, coinciding with that of the MDGs, at the conclusion of its third ministerial meet on poverty alleviation.
Earlier, the deadline for attaining the SAARC Development Goals (SDGs) was set for 2012.
The day-long meeting of the SAARC ministers which concluded here today also decided that the grouping will come up with a SAARC Development Report every two years beginning 2014.
The meeting also endorsed setting up a three-tier mechanism on poverty alleviation namely, regional level, followed by national and local levels based on public-private partnership model, according to SAARC Secretariat.
Inaugurating the regional meet, Chairman of the Interim Election Government of Nepal Khil Raj Regmi recalled Mahatma Gandhi's statement, "Poverty is the worst form of violence" and underlined the need to fight poverty in the region through joint efforts.
SAARC Secretary General Ahmed Saleem said "SAARC will put all its efforts to enhance the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015."
Four member delegation from India led by Vandana Kumari Jena, Principal Advisor to Planning Commission, was attending the meeting.