Role of SAARC in South Asia
The South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation or SAARC is the
world’s biggest organization in term of population; it has 22 percent of
total population. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
South Asia is the important area in terms of International peace,
security, economics, and resources. One fourth of total population of
world live in this area, in this area natural resources and water
resources are huge and thus the probability of development is very
much. At the same time this area is famous in the world for poorness,
unemployment, terrorism and political disturbance.
The regional organization role has been increased in this globalization
time. The interdependence of nations has been increased. If SAARC
member help each of its member country economically then poverty
and illiteracy can easily be reduce. SAARC members have to take
example, how European Union and ASEAN are succeeding in its goal.
Now it is clear that economic development will take place when
globalization and regional help take part in this.
Main problems in the way of SAARC –
1 Tension between India and Pakistan-
2 The problem of Kashmir is as a volcano which always disturbs the
progress of both nations.
3 Interference of superpowers –
Some developed nations always interrupting the SAARC nations.
Especially china and America are responsible in the relationship of India
and Pakistan. Now China is giving special attention in the terms of good
relationship with SAARC nations. It is good for future.
4 Political Disturbance-
The SAARC nations are politically disturbed. The democracy in Pakistan
is not established yet. Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh also politically
disturbed. India is also disturbed due to terrorism. Political disturbance
always affected the SAARC. Due to this SAARC nations have no more
faith with each other.
5 Terrorism-
The most important problem in the way of SAARC is terrorism. The all
member nations of SAARC are affected with terrorism. World
communities have worried about that if the nuclear weapons be used
by terrorist then what will happen.
Probability of development-
SAARC has great probability of development. This area has great
capacity to generate hydro power. Nepal and Bhutan can do more in
this area. SAARC nations have to think about open the ancient silk root.
If this root will open, the economic development will increase.
Geographically connected nations have to link with road. Asian
Development Bank has made a transport blue print for SAARC, in this
between Colombo and Chennai train root, between Nepal and Bhutan
air root and between Lahore and Agartala bus root has been planned.
These types of planning have to be executed.
QUESTIONS
1 What are the compositions and functions of SAARC?
Cooperation in SAARC is based on respect for the five principles of
sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non-
interference in internal affairs of the Member States and mutual
benefit.
2 What are the four objectives of SAARC?
1 To quicken the economic growth, social progress, and cultural
development.
2 To make the self-reliance among the countries of South Asia.
3 To make strong cooperation among themselves
4 international forums in matters of common interest.
3 What are the functions of SAARC Secretariat?
The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January
1987. Its role is to coordinate and monitor the implementation of
SAARC activities, service the meetings of the Association and serve as
the channel of communication between SAARC and other international
organizations.
4 Who is known as father of SAARC?
Ziaur Rahman is known as the father of SAARC
Saarc nations for technology use to fight climate crisis in
fisheries
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
countries on Thursday pitched for adoption of technologies to
reduce the impact of climate crisis on fisheries and
acquaculture, and sought regional cooperation for cross-
learning.
A consultative meeting of fishery scientists representing India,
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bhutan held
by SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) has felt the urgent need for
implementing strategies such as introduction of climate-
friendly technologies in fisheries and aquaculture as well as
measures for sustainable utilisation of the resources.
In the meeting, India stressed the need for applying artificial
intelligence, bio-informatics, genetic and biotechnological tools,
etc, in frontier areas of research to improve aquaculture and
fisheries sector.
"The member countries have demanded for regional
cooperation among the nations and a platform for cross-
learning and knowledge sharing to check the fallouts in the best
possible way in the time of climate change," Md. Baktear
Hossain, Director of the SAC said in a statement.
In marine fisheries, the need for capacity building for
exploitation of deep sea resources was raised by India,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, scarcity of quality seeds and shortage
of other input materials were the major gaps faced by the
member countries in inland aquaculture, he said.
"Based on the discussions in the meeting, the SAARC has come
up with a set of recommendations to address such issues.
Technical collaboration for knowledge sharing and capacity
building among the SAARC countries and setting up of regional
networks for seed bank and germplasm transfer are some of
the suggestions, he added.
In the meeting, the experts voiced concern over dwindling
marine catch and aquaculture production, environmental
disruption in aquatic ecosystems and its rippling effect on
livelihood of the stakeholders owing to climate change and
associated developments.
They suggested that technologies of seaweed farming and
integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), including cage fish
farming could be adopted to reduce the impacts of the crisis to
a certain extent, it added.
The sector could use 'green fishing vessels' with built-in design features
for energy saving and fuel saving technologies to reduce carbon
emission, they added.
Grinson George, Senior Programme Specialist with the SAARC said:
There are scientific gaps inhibiting the implementation of rules and
regulations for sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture.
"Some possible solutions can be looked upon in satellite remote
sensing, numerical modelling, stakeholder perception, prioritisation of
spatial sensitivity to ecosystems and many more with right interference
from the stakeholders," he added.
Referring to the existing disparity in socio-economic standards of the
stakeholders, the SAARC body recommended for promoting discussions
and cross-learning on strengthening 'social-safety-nets' with emphasis
on ensuring socio-economic security of the stakeholders, and policies,
laws and regulations harmonising between environment conservation
and livelihood development.
Establishment of referral laboratories for aquatic animal health
management, a centre of excellence in aquaculture and fisheries in the
region and e-repository for information sharing were also listed in the
recommendations.
Marine pollution, increased fuel prices, illegal, unreported and
unregulated fishing, increasing length of value chain, resource crunch
and lack of adequate infrastructure are some of the other major issues
raised in the meeting by representatives of member countries.
SAARC Agriculture Centre is the first regional Centre established by the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), located in
Dhaka, Bangladesh.climate crisis on fisheries and acquaculture
