INTRODUCTION •ESTABLISHED ON 8TH DECEMBER 1985 •FORMED BY 8 COUNTRIES •AFGHANISTAN BECAME ITS 8TH MEMBER IN APRIL 2007 •HEADQUARTERS-NEPAL •SECREATRY- DR.SHEEL KANT SHARMA •SAARC IS AN ECONOMIC & POLITICAL ORGANISATION
OBJECTIVES •IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE & WELFARE OF PEOPLE •ECONOMIC, SOCIAL & CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT •STRENGHTEN SELF RELIANCE AMONG MEMBERS •CONTRIBUTE MUTUAL TRUST & UNDERSTANDING •ASSIST IN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, TECHANICAL, CULTURAL & SCIENTIFIC FIELDS •STRENGHTEN COOPERATION AMONG THEMSELVES & OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES •COOPERATE ON ISSUES LIKE WATER RESOURCES,
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES SAARC ALSO LOOKS IN CRITICAL AREAS LIKE POVERTY, EDUCATION, CULTURE, SPORTS & ARTS . POVERTY ØTWELFTH SUMMIT DECLARED POVERTY ERRADICATION AS THE MAIN GOAL
ØTHE PLAN OF ACTION INCLUDED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, FIGHTING URBAN & RURAL POVERTY , MULTI-CULTURISM,
EDUCATION •OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF HUMAN RESOURCES •EMPHASIZED ON PROMOTION OF EDUCATION •STANDARDISATION OF CURRICULA, MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF COURSES •SAARC TEACHERS FORUM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED •FREE EDUCATION TO ALL CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGE OF 6-14YRS
CULTURE SPORTS & ARTS • PRACTICAL MEASURES FOR PROTECTION CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CULTURAL & PILGRIMAGE SITES • ENCOURAGEMENT OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS & CULTURE • LAST SAARC CULTURAL FESTIVAL WAS HELD IN DHAKA • COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF CULTURE
SAPTA • SOUTH ASIAN PREFERENTIAL TRADING AGREEMENT • SIGNED ON 11TH APRIL 1993 IN DHAKA • FRAMEWORK FOR TARIFF CONESSIONS • PROMOTING TRADE & ECONOMIC COOPERATION • INDIA, PAKISTAN & SRILANKA ARE NON-LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES(NLDCS) •BANGLADESH, BHUTAN, MALDIVES & NEPAL CATEGORIZED AS LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
SAFTA • SOUTH ASIAN FREE TRADE AREA • SIGNED IN ISLAMABAD IN JANUARY 2004 • CAME INTO FORCE ON 1st JANUARY 2006 • TARIFF LIBERALISATION PROGRAMME (TLP) •WAS INTRODUCED • TLP COVERS ALL TARIFF LINES EXCEPT THE SENSETIVE LIST • STRENGHTENS ECONOMIC COOPERATION
MEMBERS & FUTURE MEMBERSHIP CURRENT MEMBERS •INDIA •PAKISTAN •SRILANKA •NEPAL •BHUTAN •MALDIVES •BANLADESH •AFGHANISTAN