Returning from New Delhi yesterday, Foreign Minister Morshed Khan told reporters the visit of Aziz would mainly focus on making Saarc more effective.

"At the Dhaka summit, we want to take the forum out of a mere declaration phase and turn it into an implementing body with time-bound projects," said Morshed without specifying any bilateral or regional issues that are to be discussed by the two countries.

Aziz is expected to arrive at ZIA along with a 61-member delegation at 1:30pm after touring Nepal and Bhutan. He will travel to India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the three other Saarc nations, after Eid.

The Pakistan PM and his entourage will be flown directly to the National Mausoleum in Savar by a helicopter from the airport. He is also expected to visit the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman.

The two prime ministers are scheduled to hold a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, where Khaleda will host iftar and dinner for the guests.

The two leaders will discuss matters related to the forthcoming three-day summit, starting on January 9, and issues of bilateral interest, said a Foreign Ministry press release.

Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan is to call on Aziz at Hotel Sonargaon at 8:00pm, followed by a visit by Grameen Bank Managing Director Prof Mohammad Yunus.

Aziz, who will pay a courtesy call on President Iajuddin Ahmed, is scheduled to meet with editors and heads of media houses at his hotel tomorrow.

This will be his first visit to Bangladesh since assumption of office in August 28 this year.

Planning and Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman and BNP Secretary General and Local Government Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan will also meet Aziz tomorrow.

Aziz will lay foundation stone for the new Pakistani high commission in Dhaka after which Morshed will see him off at the airport tomorrow.

The entourage of the Pakistan prime minister includes Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan, Industries and Production Minister Jahangir Khan Taren, Textile Minister Mustaq Ali Cheema, State Minister for Water and Power Eng. Amir Muqam and State Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.

LIFE SKETCH OF AZIZ

Shaukat Aziz, a former award-winning finance minister and renowned banker, was born in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on March 6, 1949.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Gordon College, Rawalpindi and obtained Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Institute of Business Administration, University of Karachi in 1969.

Aziz started his career as a banker by joining the Citibank in Karachi in 1969. He went abroad in 1975 and served in several countries including the Philippines, Jordan, Greece, USA, UK, Malaysia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

His appointment as the executive vice-president of Citibank in 1992, was one of many illustrious positions he held in his 30 years of service in global financing and international banking.

In November 1999, Aziz was appointed as finance minister of Pakistan. He was also chairman of economic cooperation committee of the cabinet, executive committee of national economic council and cabinet committee on privatisation.

Aziz also retained the finance portfolio under the government of last Prime Minister (PM) Zafar Ullah Khan Jamali and got elected as senator in 2002.

He was picked by the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) as the next prime minister after the resignation of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on June 6, 2004.

Aziz was sworn in as the 23rd prime minister on August 28, 2004.