"Poverty alleviation is one of our targets. We urge you to open Grameen Bank office here and seek your support to make our endeavour a success," Musharraf told the Nobel laureate when he called on the Pak ruler at president's camp office in Rawalpindi.

Musharraf congratulated Prof Yunus on his winning the Nobel Peace Prize and said the people in Pakistan feel very proud of this great achievement, and that Grameen Bank is an example for the whole world.

He listened to Yunus' experience and success story with great interest during the 45-minute-long meeting.

Economic Adviser to the Pak president Salman Shah, Minister of State Omar Ayub and other top officials of the finance ministry were present during the meeting.

Appreciating the micro-finance movement of Prof Yunus in alleviating poverty, the Pakistan president said, "It's your invention; you have changed the destiny of the people and the whole world recognised your endeavour."

Both Musharraf and Yunus discussed different regional issues, including the Saarc movement across the region.

"I am a strong supporter of the Saarc... It's my dream that Saarc will be first region in the world to send poverty into the museum," the Nobel laureate told the Pakistan president.

He also suggested taking initiative to introduce Saarc passport and scholarships for the citizens of the member countries to make easy cross-border visit to increase cultural and social exchanges between peoples of the region.

Later, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz hosted a banquet at the Prime Minister's House in honour of the micro-finance pioneer. More than 100 people, including senior ministers, government officials and social elite, attended the banquet.

During a meeting with Prof Yunus, the Pakistan prime minister requested him to replicate his ideas and experiences in Pakistan through opening Grameen Bank.

"Really, we have been proud of you as you earned the honour for the whole South Asian region as well as for the Muslim world," said Shaukat Aziz.

He said micro-finance movement in Pakistan was inspired by Prof Yunus and Grameen Bank.

Prof Yunus suggested the Pakistan prime minister to set up social business enterprise like Gameen-Danone Yogurt company to improve nutrition status of the poor.

He also urged the Pakistani leaders to establish a social stock market in which the social enterprises could be enlisted for trading their shares.