Published by: Mandira
Published date: 30 Jan 2022
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional organization of South Asian nations. It had seven founding members, they are Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan. However, later on, Afghanistan joined the organization on 13th November 2005 AD. The countries of South Asia have established this organization to develop the good relationship, extend cooperation and solve their common problems together.It was established on 8th December 1985 AD.
Among the eight countries of SAARC, India is the biggest country with an area of 3.287 million square km and Maldives is the smallest country with an area of 298 square km. Similarly, Sri Lanka and Maldives are the island countries whereas Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan are the landlocked countries. Among them, Nepal is the biggest landlocked country with an area of 1,47,181 square km.
Objective of SAARC
The SAARC countries are different in size, population, economy, etc but they have many things in common. They have more or less similar types of problems and needs.
Thus, they realised that they could develop their countries more rapidly if they helped and cooperated with each other in the fields like agriculture, tourism, education, sports, etc.
There are different areas of united action and cooperation of SAARC. The major areas of cooperation are:
The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16th January 1987 and was inaugurated by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal. It is the administrative organ of SAARC which carries out day-to-day administrative tasks of SAARC. The head of SAARC Secretariat is known as the Secretary General.
While performing the certain task of SAARC, it needs to follow certain principles. They are:
The SAARC has its own emblem. The emblem of SAARC consists of seven pigeons held in two hands. It is the symbol of unity, peace, and respect among the seven SAARC member countries.