South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

The member states established the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985 to ensure economic stability and progress. In other words, they created SAARC to foster economic growth, encourage cultural exchange, and promote social progress among themselves.Moreover, it involves eight South Asian countries working together to achieve these common goals: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. SAARC signifies a significant alliance and integration podium. This blog aims to unveil various aspects of SAARC, from its history and objectives to its prospects.

History Of SAARC

The idea of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) emerged in 1980. Then-President of Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman, proposed the concept. He aimed to promote peace, harmony, cooperation, and development in South Asia. He suggested forming a regional body focused on socio-economic challenges. Bangladesh hosted the first SAARC summit in Dhaka on December 8, 1985. The founding members were Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal, and India. Afghanistan became the eighth member in 2007.

The member countries created SAARC to foster cooperation in health, education, trade, environment, and agriculture. SAARC operates on principles of non-interference and mutual respect. It also relies on decision-making by consensus.

The SAARC Secretariat was established in 1987 in Kathmandu, Nepal, to coordinate activities. In 2004, all SAARC nations signed SAFTA, a major free trade agreement.

In addition, SAARC set up centers for disaster management, energy, funding, and arbitration. However, ongoing political tensions—especially between India and Pakistan since 2014—have created significant challenges. Nevertheless, SAARC continues to actively address shared regional issues, including health, poverty, and climate change.

Objective Behind SAARC's Foundation

As per the charter of SAARC, the key objectives are:

Encourage the well-being of populations of all the countries.
Boost cultural, economic, and social growth.
Amplify reliance and support among the members of SAARC.
Increase mutual trust and understanding and provide solutions to the problems.
Promote economic, social, cultural, technical, and scientific alliances to support mutual development.
Consolidate collaboration with developing nations.
Enhance cooperation with global and regional organizations.
Addressing issues like education, poverty, health and environmental sustainability.
Safeguarding and maintaining the cultural heritage of India.
Encouraging peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

Structure of SAARC

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has structured a hierarchy of structure to strengthen cooperation, building strategy, and execution of policies within the members. Below is the step-by-step detail of the organizational structure-

1. SAARC Summit- it is the highest Authority in SAARC, comprising the government or Head of State of all member nations. It is organized every two years. All the policies and their executions, along with listing their priorities. All major decisions are taken and declared by it.

2. Council of Ministers- Members of it involve all the foreign ministers of the country as its members. Furthermore, their meeting is held biannually or as needed. Implements decision of SAARC summit and reviews cooperation and regional growth in member states. Besides, it prepares the draft of references for the summit

3. Standing Committee – This committee comprises foreign secretaries of member nations.The team handles overall coordination, approves the budget, and manages programs. It also connects technical committees with higher bodies.

4. Programming Committee—This board comprises senior officials, such as joint Secretaries. They are assigned to outline the work plans, monitor technical committees, and supervise implementations.

5. Technical Committees—This committee focuses on sectors such as Education, Health, Agriculture, Science and Technology, and Environment. The team executes the work and gathers input from experts.

6. SAARC Secretariat—It is situated in Kathmandu, Nepal, and is regulated by a Secretary-General. He is appointed for 3 years by rotation. The secretariat’s job is to establish communication between members, organize meetings, and coordinate activities.

7. Specialized Bodies and Regional Centres- It comprises the SAARC Development Fund (SDF), Bhutan, SAARC Energy Centre (Pakistan), and SAARC Disaster Management Centre (India). It executes specific regional wits.

Key Achievements of SAARC

SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) is a landmark initiative centred on reducing tariffs and establishing trade relations between member countries. As a result of regional cooperation, member countries not only increase trade but also further strengthen their economic integration.
Disaster Management: The SAARC Disaster Management Centre focuses on enhancing regional support during disasters or remaining prepared for calamities.
Social and Development Programs: SAARC aims to focus on education, Rural development programs, and other programs to improve people’s quality of life.SAARC emphasizes health programs like the Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS Center to control disease spread and ensure proper treatment.
Educational and cultural initiatives: bolster cultural exchange and students’ scholarships for students to enhance understanding and assistance.

Challenges Facing SAARC

Despite the success of SAARC in promoting all-round growth among its member countries, it has nevertheless faced numerous challenges. Below are some of the notable challenges posing obstruction to the success of SAARC –

Infrastructural lag: the poor connectivity and limitation in infrastructure do not prevent the effective execution of initiatives by SAARC in different nations of members.

Shortage of funding: Key projects often do not get implemented due to the shortage of financial funds.

Partial trade integrations: Intra-regional trade is less common, posing fewer trade opportunities.

Political stress: Conflicts between members of states cause obstacles in the progress of SAARC nations.

Lack of Funding: Inadequate fiscal resources affect the progress of projects and programs.

SAARC must focus on these challenges via strengthened economic cooperation, improved regional connectivity, focus on sustainable development, and conflict resolution mechanisms.

Conclusion

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) agreement has fostered growth in all countries through broadened market reach amongst the member nations and supported growth. It has essentially transformed nations into developed and prosperous nations. By leveraging strengths and pinpointing challenges, SAAARC played an essential role in building unity, economic growth, and social development. SAARC’s success is expected to have a bright future for the residents of South Asian nations.

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