The Standing Committee sets up Action Committees comprising Member States concerned with the implementation of projects involving more than two but not all Member States.
Action Committees
Working Groups (WG) formulate and over see programmes and activities within the framework of SAARC to strengthen and promote regional cooperation in their respective areas. The WGs coordinate, monitor and evaluate programmes in this regard. In recommending target-bound programmes and activities, they would also propose mechanisms and sources of finance to implement them. Further, they would also carry out the directives emanating from SAARC higher bodies. Following WGs meet regularly to provide inputs on their respective areas of co-operation:
Working Group on Biotechnology
Working Group on Energy
Working Group on Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Working Group on Tourism
Technical Committees comprising representatives of Member States are responsible for the implementation, coordination and monitoring of the programmes in their respective areas of cooperation.
In addition to determining the pontential and the scope of regional cooperation in agreed areas, Technical Committees are involved in formulation of programmes and preparation of projects. They also coordinate the implementaion of sectoral programmes and assess the implementation regularly. The following Technical Committees work on their respective areas to provide support to SAARC activities:
Technical Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Technical Committee on Health and Population Activities
Technical Committee on Women, Youth and Children
Technical Committee on Science and Technology
Technical Committee on Transport
Technical Committee on Environment
The Programming Committee comprising of the Heads (JS/DG/Director) of SAARC Divisions of Member States was set up by the Fifth Session of the Standing Committee (Dhaka, 4 December 1985) to assist the Standing Committee. The Fortieth Session of the Standing Committee (Maldives, 19 February 2014) granted Charter Body status to the Programming Committee.
The Programming Committee considers the Calendar of Activities; Administrative and Financial Matters of the Secretariat and Regional Centres, Technical Committees, Working Groups, and Specialized Bodies.
The Programming Committee meets prior to the meetings of the Standing Committee. The Programming Committee also meets as a stand-alone session.
|
Programming Committee |
Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
|
Fifty Ninth Session |
6-7 March 2024 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fifty Eighth Session |
15 December 2020 |
Virtual |
|
Fifty Seventh Session |
19-20 December 2019 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fifty Sixth Session |
11-12 December 2018 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fifty Fifth Session |
6 July 2018 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fifty Fourth Session |
12-13 December 2017 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fifty Third Session |
1-2 February 2017 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fifty Second Session |
14-15 March 2016 |
Pokhara, Nepal |
|
Fifty First Session |
21-22 December 2015 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fiftieth Session |
8-9 July 2015 |
Islamabad, Pakistan |
|
Forty Ninth Session |
22 November 2014 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Forty Eighth Session |
26-28 October 2014 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Forty Seventh Session |
31 August-1September 2014 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Forty Sixth Session |
29-30 August2014 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Forty Fifth Session |
17 February 2014 |
Maldives |
|
Forty Fourth Session |
9-11 December 2013 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Forty Third Session |
3-5 January 2013 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Forty Second Session |
6 November 2011 |
Addu City, Maldives |
|
Forty First Session |
17-19 October 2011 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fortieth Session |
5 February 2011 |
Thimphu, Bhutan |
|
Thirty Ninth Session |
15-16 December 2010 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Thirty Eighth Session |
24 April 2010 |
Thimphu, Bhutan |
|
Thirty Seventh Session |
28-29 January 2010 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Thirty Sixth Session |
10-11 August 2009 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Thirty Fifth Session |
23-24 February 2009 |
Colombo, Sri Lanka |
|
Thirty Fourth Session |
19-20 November 2008 |
Kandy, Sri Lanka |
|
Thirty Third Session |
27-28 July 2008 |
Colombo, Sri Lanka |
|
Thirty Second Session |
8-9 May 2008 |
Jaipur, India |
|
Thirty First Session |
3-4 December 2007 |
New Delhi, India |
|
Thirtieth Session |
6-7 August 2007 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Twenty Ninth Session |
30 March 2007 |
New Delhi, India |
|
Twenty Eighth Session |
14-15 November 2006 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Twenty Seventh Session |
30 July 2006 |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |
|
Twenty Sixth Session |
8-9 November 2005 |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |
|
Twenty Fifth Session |
16-17 July 2004 |
Islamabad, Pakistan |
|
Twenty Fourth Session |
29-30 December 2003 |
Islamabad, Pakistan |
|
Twenty Third Session |
18 August 2002 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Twenty Second Session |
28-29 December 2001 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Twenty First Session |
13-14 March 1999 |
Nuwara Eliva, Sri Lanka |
|
Twentieth Session |
23-24 July 1998 |
Colombo, Sri Lanka |
|
Nineteenth Session |
25-26 November 1997 |
Male’, Maldives |
|
Eighteenth Session |
6-7 May 1997 |
Male’, Maldives |
|
Seventeenth Session |
14-15 December 1996 |
New Delhi, India |
|
Sixteenth Session |
14 December 1995 |
New Delhi, India |
|
Fifteenth Session |
26 April 1995 |
New Delhi, India |
|
Fourteenth Session |
26 July 1994 |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |
|
Thirteenth Session |
30 November 1993 |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |
|
Twelfth Session |
6 December 1992 |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |
|
Eleventh Session |
4 July 1992 |
Colombo, Sri Lanka |
|
Tenth Session |
31 October-1 November1991 |
Colombo, Sri Lanka |
|
Ninth Session |
30 June-1 July 1991 |
Male’, Maldives |
|
Eighth Session |
13-14 November 1990 |
Male’, Maldives |
|
Seventh Session |
6 November 1989 |
Islamabad, Pakistan |
|
Sixth Session |
23-24 December 1988 |
Islamabad, Pakistan |
|
Fifth Session |
7-8 August 1988 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Fourth Session |
26-28October 1987 |
Kathmandu, Nepal |
|
Third Session |
14-15 June 1987 |
New Delhi, India |
|
Second Session |
11-12 November 1986 |
Bangalore, India |
|
First Session |
8-9 August 1986 |
Dhaka, Bangladesh |