SAARC is an economic and political organization established in 1985 between 8 South Asian countries - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Afghanistan. Its objectives include promoting economic growth, social progress, cultural development and collective self-reliance among member states. Key aspects of SAARC include the Secretariat established in Kathmandu, the Integrated Programme of Action covering areas like agriculture and health, and agreements like SAFTA establishing a free trade area across South Asia. Major countries and organizations have been granted observer status to SAARC.

1. SAARC
BY : JitenderSailendra Maharajan

2. India Bhutan Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
NepalMaldives
Afghanistan

3. INTRODUCTION
 SAARC is an economic and
political organization.
 SAARC was established on
December 8, 1985.
 In terms of population - almost 2
billion people.

4.  It aims to accelerate the
process of economic and
social development in
Member States.
 SAARC provides a platform
for the peoples of South
Asia to work together in the
spirit understanding.
 In April 2007, at the
Association's 14th summit,
Afghanistan became its
eighth member.

5. Objectives
 To promote the welfare of the people
 To accelerate economic growth, social progress and
cultural development
 To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance
 To contribute to mutual trust, understand and
appreciation of one another's problem;
 To promote active collaboration and mutual
assistance
 To strengthen cooperation with other developing
countries;
 To strengthen cooperation among themselves
 To cooperate with international and regional
organisations with similar aims and purposes.

6. Principles of SAARC
The principles are as follows:
Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, political
equality and independence of all members states.
Non-interference in the internal matters is one of its
objectives.
 Cooperation for mutual benefit.
All decisions to be taken unanimously and need a quorum
of all eight members.
All bilateral issues to be kept aside and only multilateral
issues to be discussed without being prejudiced by bilateral
issues.

7. Secretariat
 The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on
16 January 1987 and was inaugurated by Late King
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal

8. IPA
(Integrated Programme of Action)
 The Declaration on South Asian Regional Cooperation was
adopted by the Foreign Ministers in 1983 in New Delhi. During
the meeting, the Ministers also launched the Integrated
Programme of Action (IPA) in nine agreed areas namely:-
 Agriculture
 Rural Development
 Telecommunications
 Meteorology
 Health and Population Activities
 Transport
 Postal Services
 Science and Technology
 Sports, Arts and Culture

9. List of SAARC summits
 ¤ 1st
Saarc Summit (Dhaka, December 8, 1985)
 ¤ 2nd
Saarc Summit (Bangalore, November 17, 1986)
 ¤ 3rd
Saarc Summit (Katmandu, November 4, 1987)
 ¤ 4th
Saarc Summit (Islamabad, December 31, 1988)
 ¤ 5th
Saarc Summit (Male', November 23, 1990)
 ¤ 6th
Saarc Summit (Colombo, December 21, 1991)
 ¤ 7th
Saarc Summit (Dhaka, April 11, 1993)
 ¤ 8th
Saarc Summit (New Delhi, May 4, 1995)
 ¤ 9th
Saarc Summit (Male', May 14, 1997)
 ¤ 10th
Saarc Summit (Colombo, July 31, 1998)
 ¤ 11th
Saarc Summit (Katmandu, January 6, 2002)
 ¤ 12th
Saarc Summit (Islamabad, January 6, 2004)
 ¤ 13th
Saarc Summit (Dhaka, November 13,2005)
 ¤ 14th
Saarc Summit (New Delhi, April 3-4,2007)
 ¤ 15th
Saarc Summit (Colombo, July 27 – August 4,2008)
 ¤ 16th
Saarc Summit ( Thimpu , 28 April – 29 April ,2010)
 ¤ 17th
Saarc Summit ( Maldives , Nov. 10 – Nov. 11 , 2011)
 ¤ 18th
Saarc Summit ( Kathmandu , Nov. 26 – Nov. 27 , 2014 )
 ¤ 19th
Saarc Summit Pakistan

10. SAFTA
(South Asian Free Trade Agreement)
 The Agreement on the South Asian Free Trade
Area is an agreement reached at the 12th SAARC
summit at Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on 6
January 2004.
 Free trade area covering at least 2 billion people in
India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Bhutan and the Maldives
 This agreement went into force on 1st
January 2006.
Under this agreement , SAARC members had to
bring their duties down to 20 per cent by 2007.

11. Observer Status
 In April 2006, the United States of America and South
Korea made formal requests to be granted observer
status.
 The European Union also indicated interest in being
given observer status, and made a formal request for
the same to the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting
in July 2006.
 On August 2, 2006 the foreign ministers of the SAARC
countries agreed in principle to grant observer status
to the US, South Korea and the European Union

12. European Union (EU) and SAARC
 In 1999, EU and SAARC agree to cooperate on
improving market access for SAARC products into EU.
 The EU is observer in SAARC since 2006.
 EU is convinced that SAARC could play a useful role
in regional co-operation and dialogue.

13. FUTURE MEMBERSHIP
 The People's Republic of China
 The Islamic Republic of Iran
 The Russian Federation
 Union of Myanmar
 The Republic of South Africa