Council of Ministers

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.


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 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

Banglore, India

First Session

8-9 August 1986

Dhaka, Bangladesh