Working Groups

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 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


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