Setting the goal of a poverty-free SAARC region by 2017, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday asked the members of the grouping to set up of a prosperity index and knowledge platform to speed up development.

Interacting with leaders of SAARC countries at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kalam laid emphaisis on three factors -- the annual growth rate of GDP, improvement in quality of life, particularly of people living under the poverty line and adoption of a value system derived from civilisation heritage in every walk of life.

These three factors would help create a national prosperity index for every nation. "Based on this or a similar model, let us evolve a SAARC Prosperity Index that will represent the overall quality of life of the people in the region," the scientist-turned-president said.

"This will enable the SAARC organisation and its system of programme management to implement SAARC programmes in an effective manner that will make a difference to the lives of the people in the region," Kalam said.

He also favoured the setting up of a SAARC knowledge platform including areas like e-networks, energy, water, healthcare, agriculture, food processing and capacity building. This will meet the unique needs of regional development and help frame a roadmap for its time-bound implementation, he remarked.

He said the SAARC countries should ensure that poverty was eliminated from the region by 2017 and all citizens were empowered with quality education, healthcare and employment potential, leading to overall enhancement in prosperity and happiness.

The main objective of SAARC is to provide a platform for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding to accelerate the process of economic and social development of member states.

"SAARC countries have several core competencies and every country has a vision to become a developed nation in a time-bound manner," Kalam said.

During the hour-long interaction, Kalam highlighted resources like Afghanistan's untapped oil and natural gas as well as minerals and metals, the Grameen Bank concept of Bangladesh, the hydro-power resources of Bhutan and Nepal, India's prowess in information technology, tourism in the Maldives, Pakistan's cotton textiles and Sri Lanka's tea and rubber processing as areas of potential cooperation between the SAARC nations.

This, he said, would transform SAARC into a fully developed region.

The interaction with Kalam was attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, Nepal Prime Minister G P Koirala, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed of Bangaldesh's interim government and Bhutan Prime Minister Khandu Wangchuk.