POSITION AND

EXTENT OF SAARC
COUNTRIES

South Asian Association of Regional

Co-operation

SAARC

The South Asian Association for Regional

Cooperation (SAARC) is an organisation
formed to improve the welfare and quality
of life of the people of South Asia. The
main aim of SAARC is to develop co-
operation among its member nations in
order to build a vibrant South Asian
community.
The SAARC countries

India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan,

Bangladesh and Srilanka form the SAARC
countires. Maldives and Afghanistan are
also included by some historians.The
SAARC countries were previously under
British rule.These countries have similar
culture , social habits and economic
practices. They face problems like poverty,
hunger, illiteracy, political and economic
instability.

Formation of SAARC

The former President of Bangladesh, Jia

Ur Rahman proposed the idea of SAARC.
He visited Nepal, India, Pakistan and
Srilanka.The charter of SAARC and
Dhaka Declaration was signed on 8th
December 1985.
Composition of SAARC
• SAARC consists of a summit, a council
of ministers, various committees and a
secretariat.
• The summit is an annual conference
where all the heads of governments of
the member countries meet and discuss
various crises and resolutions.
• The council of ministers include the
foreign ministers of all the member
countries. This council creates policies
and evaluates the progress of the
initiatives.
• The committees of SAARC are the
permanent committee, the technical
committee and the working committee.
• The secretariat of SAARC is situated at
Kathmandu in Nepal. It is headed by a
secretary, who is appointed from the
different member nations by rotation.
He serves a term of 2 years.
Programs of SAARC

• SAARC Audio Visual Exchange

program.
• SAARC Regional Convention on
suppression of Terrorism.
• Signed on Convention on Norcotic
Drugs
• Visa Exemption Sticker to MPs, Chief
Justice etc.
• South Asian Preferential Trade
Agreement.
• SAARC year of poverty Eradication.
• SAARC decade of the rights of the
child.
• South Asian Federation Games.