Celebrating the Completion of Two Decades of SAARC in 2005. (2005-15)

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was launched on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka. The SAARC Charter affirms the desire of the seven South Asian states to promote peace, stability, amity and progress in the region.

2.The broad objectives are to promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia; to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development; and to promote and strengthen collective self-reliance of South Asia.

3.The members of SAARC are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 4.By virtue of hosting the 12th Summit on 4-6 January 2004, Pakistan iscurrently the Chairperson of SAARC. The Summit was ar~ eminent success. It has opened up new avenues~ of regional cooperation among the South Asian countries. The documents signed during the Islamabad Summit included SAARC Social Charter, South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Framework Agreement and Additional Protocol to the SAARC Convention on Suppression of Terrorism.

5. During its Chairpersonship, Pakistan has made substantive efforts to promote regional cooperation in diverse field such as Science and Technology, Energy Cooperation, Communication, Information and Communications, Technology, Information and Media, Trade and Economic matters. Sectoral Ministerial Meetings, Working Groups, Workshops and symposia on various issues were organized to give impetus to regional South Asia. During this period SAARC was granted Observer status by the United Nations in December 2004.

6. SAARC Chairpersonship will be handed over to Bangladesh at the 13th Summit to be held at Dhaka.

7. SAARC is completing two decades of its existence in 2005. In order to promote-tourism in the South Asia Region, it has been decided to celebrate 2005 as “See South Asia Year.”

To celebrate the Completion of two decades of SAARC in 2005 a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs. 5/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post Office on November 12, 2005.