KATHMANDU: The 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit will be held in Islamabad, capital city of Pakistan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made the declaration of organizing the 19th Summit adding that the SAARC has to be made more dynamic in eradicating poverty of this area.

Calling for the speedy implementation of decisions he further said the rate of implementation of decisions taken by SAARC leaders in below expectation.

Earlier, Maldives’ President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom handed over the SAARC chairmanship to Nepal Prime Minister Sudhil Koirala, who would bear the responsibility till the next Summit.

Earlier in the day, all the heads of state or government from eight South Asian countries and representatives of nine observer states -- China, US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, Iran and European Union -- reached at City Hall of Rastriya Sabha Griha, the conference building of the Summit, by 8:00am.

BDST: 1146 HRS, NOV 25, 2014