SAARC

South Asian Association for

Regional Cooperation

Prepared By:
Arslan Ahmed
Atif Alvi
Ali Khan
Zahid Mehmood
Ali Rahman
Aneeqa Ejaz

INTRODUCTION

SAARC is an eco-political organization of 8 South Asian

nations, which was established on 8 December 1985 for
friendship and cooperation among themselves and with other
developing countries.

Covering a population of more than 2 billion, SAARC is the

largest regional organization in the world.

HISTORY
Idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was discussed in atleast three
conferences:
1-the Asians Relations Conference in New Delhi in April 1947
2-the Baguio Conference in the Philippines in May 1950,
3-the Colombo Powers Conference in April 1954

The first concrete proposal for establishing a framework for regional

cooperation in South Asia was made by the late president of
Bangladesh, Zia-ur-Rehman, on May 2, 1980.

Established on 8 December 1985.

Its seven founding members are Sri Lanka, Bhutan, India, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

PRINCIPLES

Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political equality and

independence of all members states.

Non-interference in the internal matters.

Cooperation for mutual benefit.

All decisions to be taken unanimously.

All bilateral issues to be kept aside and only multilateral issues to

be discussed.

AIMS and OBJECTIVES

Welfare of the people of south Asia.

Economic growth, social progress and cultural development .

Strengthen selective self-reliance among the countries of south

Asia.

Understanding and appreciation of one another's problems.

Strengthen cooperation among themselves as well as with other

developing countries and international and regional organizations

Maintain peace in the region.

MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS

OF SAARC

CURRENT MEMBERS
1.

Afghanistan
2007)

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka

(joined the organization in

OBSERVERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Australia
China
European Union
Japan
Iran
Mauritius
Myanmar
S. Korea
USA

POTENTIAL FUTURE
MEMBERS

Myanmarhas expressed interest in

upgrading it's status from an observer to a
full member of SAARC.

Russia has expressed interest in becoming

an observer of SAARC.

OTHERS

South Africa has participated in meetings.

ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE OF SAARC

COUNCIL

At the top, there is the Council

represented by the heads of the
government of the member countries.
The council is the apex policy making
body. It meets once in 2 years time.

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
** It is to assist the council. It is represented by the foreign
ministers of the member countries. Its functions include:

Formulation of policies

Review of functioning

Deciding new areas of cooperation

Chalk out additional mechanism

Decide about general issues of common interests of the

SAARC members.

STANDING COMMITTEE
** It is comprised by the foreign secretarian of
the member government. Its major functions
are:

To monitor and co-ordinate the programmes

To determine inter-sectored priorities

To mobilize cooperation within and outside

the region

To deal with the modalities of financing.

PROGRAMMING
COMMITTEE
** It consist of the senior official of the member
governments. Its functions include:

Scrutinizing the budget of the secretariat

Finalizing the annual schedule

External activities assigned by the standing

Committee

Analyses the respects of the technical

committee.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
**It consist of the represented of the member nations. Its
function are:

To formulate project and programmes

To monitor and execute the projects

To submit reports.

Cover Areas like Agriculture, Communication,

Environment, Rural Development, Health and
Population, Science and Technology, Tourism and
Transport

SECRETARIAT
** The SAARC secretariat is located in Nepal. The
secretariat is headed by the secretary-General
appointed by the Council of Ministers. Its function
include:

Coordination, execution and monitoring of SAARC

activities

Servicing the SAARC meetings

Works as communication link between the SAARC

and other international forums.

SAARC
AREAS OF
COOPERATION

Agriculture & Biotechnology

Trade & Finance

Education

Information , Communication & Media

Science & Technology

Energy & Environment

Tourism & Social Development

Culture

People-to-People Contacts

Trade & Finance

The acceleration of economic growth is a Charter objective of

SAARC. Corporation in core areas of trade and finance b/w the
SAARC members in 1991.

The following important processes of SAARC are

promoting cooperation in the field of Trade,
Economy and Finance

Customs Cooperation

South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) (Custom Duties down to 20%)

SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA)

POLITICAL ISSUES

The dispute over Kashmirs accession to

India has been standing in the way of the
lasting peace and prosperity of the Indian
subcontinent as well as SAARC.

AGREEMENTS,
DECLARATIONS
AND
CONVENTIONS
OF
SAARC

AGGREMENTS

Agreement for establishment of SAARC Arbitration Council

Final Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation

Final Agreement on Customs Matters

CHARTER OF SDF 31 July 2008

Agreement on establishing the SAARC food bank

Agreement on south Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)

Agreement on the Establishment of South Asian Regional Standards

Organization (SARSO)

Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation

DECLARATIONS

Ministerial Declaration on Global Economic Crisis

Colombo Statement on Children of South Asia

Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism

Islamabad Declaration on Health, 2005

Colombo Declaration on a Common Environment Program

Common Position on Climate Change, Nov. 1998

Rawalpindi Resolution on Children of South Asia, Aug. 1996

New Delhi Declaration of Environment Ministers, Apr, 1997

Declaration of Commerce MinistersMay 1998

CONVENTIONS

SAARC Convention on Combating and

Prevention of Trafficking in Women and
Children for Prostitution

The purpose of this Convention is to effectively deal with the various

aspects of prevention and suppression of trafficking in women and
children and to prevent the use of women and children prostitution
networks.

Convention on Promotion of Welfare of

Children

The purpose of this Convention is to promote cooperation amongst

Member States so that they take effective steps for the welfare of
children.

Convention on Mutual Assistance on

Criminal Matters and Suppression of
Terrorism

The States Parties shall provide widest possible measures

of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, namely
investigations, prosecution and resulting proceedings.

SAARC Convention Narcotics Drugs

Important steps have been taken to enforce the

provisions of the Regional Convention on Narcotic
Drugs.

SUMMITS
AND
MEETINGS

SUMMITS
1st Summit (Dec 1985):
Venue: Dhaka
Reaffirmation of the UN Charter and respect
for each others sovereignty.
Concern over the global economic crisis.
Declaration of belief in the objectives and the
continued relevance of the Non Aligned
Movement.
Expression of concern over the poverty in the
SAARC region and commitment to improving
social and economic conditions

2nd Summit (1986):

Venue: Bangalore
Rehash of the goals and statements of the first
summit.
Strengthening of ties between member states.
Condemned terrorism.
3rd Summit (1987):
Venue: Kathmandu
Decision to initiate study of natural disasters and its
after-effects.
Expression of satisfaction over progress in
implementation of IPA.
Call for increased people to people contact and
greater NGOs participation.

4th Summit (1988)

Venue: Islamabad
Expression of outrage over attempted coup in Maldives
and declaration of support to her government.
1989 declared as the SAARC Year Against Drug
Abuse.
1990 declared as the "SAARC Year of the Girl Child".
Launch of "SAARC-2000-A Basic Needs Perspective".
5th Summit (1990):
Venue: Male
Decision to build the SAARC Tuberculosis Centre and
the SAARC Documentation Centre in Bangladesh and
India respectively.
Declaration of the period 1991-2000 as the Decade of
the girl child.

6th Summit (1991):

Venue: Colombo.
Decision to establish an independent South Asian
Commission on Poverty Alleviation.
Approval for the Inter Governmental Group to be set up.

7th Summit (1993):
Venue: Dhaka
Commitment to end poverty in South Asia by 2002 through a
set of strategies known as the Agenda of Actions.
Appreciation for the first ever South Asian festival of SAARC
Countries held in 1992. The festival promoted culture.
8th Summit (1995):
Venue: Delhi
1994 marked as the SAARC Year of Youth.
1996 marked as the SAARC Year of Literacy.

9th Summit (1997):

Venue: Male

1997 designated the "SAARC Year of Participatory

Governance" .

Agreement to study the social compulsions that lead to

child labour.

10th Summit (1998):

Venue: Colombo

Decision to setup a committee of experts to aide in the

formulation of SAFTA.

Directive for the formulation of SAARCs social charter

issued.

11th Summit (2002):

Venue: Kathmandu

12th Summit (2004):

13th Summit (2005):

Venue: Dhaka
2006-2015 declared as the Decade of Poverty Alleviation.
Agreements signed related to customs assistance, arbitration and tax
assistance.
14th Summit (2007):
Venue: Dehli
SAARC Agenda for Culture launched.
South Asian university to be established in India.
15th Summit (2008):
Venue: Colombo.
16th Summit(2010):
Venue: Thimpu
Agreement to form the South Asia Forum.

17th Summit (2011):

Venue: Addu Citty
Declarations and endorsements.

MINISTERIAL MEETINGS

Meetings held between the

ministers of member states of
various portfolios.
More than 30 such meetings have
been held.

Rawalpindi Resolution:
August 1996
Related to the issue of children rights.
Declaration of safeguarding of rights of
children to an education plus curbing child
labor.
Environment Ministers meeting:
April 1997
Reaffirmation of goals of international
conventions.
Proposal for environmental safeguarding of
South Asian seas.

Commerce Ministers Meeting:

May 1998.
Held in Geneva right after the WTO ministerial
meeting.
Joint statement demanding the rights of developing
nations.
Islamabad Declaration:
July 2005
Related to health issues.
Agreement to setup Expert Group on Population to
aide sharing of expertise and experience related to
population issues.
Emphasis laid on achieving the MDGs and on
allocating a larger share of GDP on health related
matters.

Cooperation in Counter Terrorism:

Colombo 2009.
Ratification and implementation of SAARC
Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in
Criminal Matters.
Establishment of High Level Group of
Eminent Experts.

SUCCESSES
AND
FAILURES

ECONOMIC
ACHIEVEMENTS

SAPTA(SAARC preferential trading arrangement)was

signed on 7 December, 1995

SAFTA(South Asian Free Trade Area) was signed in

Islamabad in January 2004

SAARC chamber of commerce and industry (SCCI)

SAARC constitutes South Asian Development Fund(SADF)

Signed an agreement of mutual assistance.

Avoidance of double taxation were signed.

INTEGRATED
PROGRAMME OF ACTION
(IPA)

Agriculture

Rural development
Science and technology
Health
Transport
Sports
Arts
Culture and
Population activities

LITERACY AND EDUCATION

Till 2013 going to establish a common university

for education in Delhi

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Regional food security essence

Promoted global objective of shelter for all.

TERRORISM AND DRUG

TRAFFICKING

Convention on terrorism was signed in

November,1987

SAARC convention on narcotic drugs signed on

November, 1990

SAARC terrorist offences monitoring

desk(STOMD)

SAARC drug offences monitoring desk(SDOMD)

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE
CONTACT

SAVE (SARRC Audio Visual Exchange) was

implemented.

Library of SAARC

Talks between countries leads to the

diffusion of tension

FALIURES OF SAARC

India tries to dominate the function and

activities of SAARC

Large variety of different political system

Large variety regional and cultural differences

They lack financial resources and advance

technologies

Involvement of external actors

Internal problems constituting social

economic and developmental and growth
issues.

Bilateral disputes and differences

Food Security Reserve failed to meet the

need of Bangladesh

Suffers from an acute resource crunch