PMS 2016 Solved Pakistan Affairs Past Papers | Write a Short Note on SAARC
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Question Breakdown
In this question, one has to write a note on SAARC, which may include the background of its formation, its objectives, its achievements, potential, hurdles, and way forward.
Outline
1- Introduction
2- Historical Background of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
3- Objectives of SAARC
4- Achievements of SAARC
- ✓SAARC Youth Award
- ✓SAARC Specialized Bodies
- ✓Trade and Economic Integration Efforts
- ✓Conflict Diffusion and Reconciliation
- ✓SAARC Covid-19 Fund
5- Potential of SAARC
- ✓Economic Integration and Growth
- ✓Poverty reduction and socio-economic development
- ✓Cultural Exchange and Tourism Potential
- ✓Environmental Protection and Agricultural Productivity
- ✓Regional Security and Stability
6- Challenges with SAARC
- ✓Socio-economic challenges
- ✓Investment and Economic constraints
- ✓Security and Border Issues
- ✓Patriarchy and Extremism
- ✓Trust Deficit
7- Ways Forward
- ✓Enhancing Economic Cooperation
- ✓Resolving Border Disputes
- ✓Promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections
- ✓Focusing Social and Human Development
- ✓Addressing Environmental challenges
8-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
SAARC is an intergovernmental organization that promotes economic cooperation and regional integration. The league was established with the aim of promoting economic development and fostering prosperity in the region through joint concerted efforts. The union has so far established SAARC Youth Award, SAARC Specialized Bodies, and most recently, SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund. Moreover, the union has also made efforts to enhance trade and economic integration in the region, along with a crucial role in conflict diffusion between the member states. The regional alliance has a great potential to achieve regional economic stability, border security and environmental protection through cooperation and coordination among the allied states. However, the regional union has been obstructed from carrying out its objectives due to the member states’ internal disputes, poor socio-economic conditions of the region, and climate change-related hazards that are affecting the region harshly. Despite all these barriers, the region can transform into a truly effective regional alliance, like the European Union (EU), by enhancing mutual trust, resolving border disputes, increasing economic cooperation and addressing environmental challenges. The question sheds light on the background of SAARC’s establishment, its objectives, its achievements in its 39 years of life, its potential, hurdles in its way, and a few suggestions for transforming the union into an effective regional alliance.
Historical Background of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SAARC, acronym of South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, was formed in 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Actually, the proposal for such a regional economic and geopolitical alliance was made by the then President of Bangladesh, Zia-ur-Rehman, in May 1980, which led to its establishment. Initially, it started with seven members, including Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Later, Afghanistan also joined the League in 2007, making it an eight-member alliance. The alliance covers 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the population, and 5.21% of the global economy as of 2021. Despite potential to grow, it lags far behind other regional alliances, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and European Union (EU), owing to certain domestic, as well as regional issues.
Objectives of SAARC
SAARC is established with a few objectives, all aimed at collective progress and prosperity of the eight nations. The objectives of the alliance are as follows:
- To promote welfare and equality of life of people of South Asia
- To accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development of South Asia
- To strengthen self-reliance among countries of South Asia
- To understand one another’s problems
- To maintain peace in the region
- To strengthen cooperation with other developing countries
- To strengthen cooperation among each other in international forums on matters of common interest
- To cooperate with other alliances- international and regional- with similar aims and goals
Achievements of SAARC
Since its establishment, SAARC has achieved significant milestones, all contributing towards the region’s collective prosperity. Some of the achievements of SAARC are as follows:
- SAARC Youth Award
SAARC Youth Award is meant to recognize the extraordinary potential of youth in the region and to encourage research and development in the region. The award consists of a citation, a gold medal, and a cash prize of US $500. Till now, 14 young scientists have received the awards in the field of meteorology.
- SAARC Specialized Bodies
SAARC has specialized bodies created by the member states and managed by the host government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The following are some of the specialized agencies:
- SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO) in Pakistan
The arbitration body is meant to provide a legal platform in the region for fair and just settlement of those disputes arising between the member states that are referred by the member states to the arbitration body. - SAARC Development Fund (SDF) in Bhutan
The Fund is meant to provide project-based funding to the member states, promoting regional integration and economic cooperation. The Fund is governed by a Board, consisting of members from the Ministry of Finance of the Member States. - South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) in Bangladesh
SARSO is founded with the aim of enhancing coordination and collaboration among the member states in the fields of standardization and conformity assessments. It envisions harmonized standards for the region to boost intra-regional trade and have access in the global market. - South Asian University (SAU) in India:
SAU is an international university, established with the collaboration of all eight member states. The university started its operations in academic year 2010 and now, offers post-graduate and doctoral programmes in various disciplines, including economics, and international relations. The university attracts students from all eight-member states, and SAU degrees are recognized by all eight-member states.
- Trade and Economic Integration Efforts
SAARC member states have signed agreements to ease and increase intra-regional trade among the member nations. In 1993, South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) was signed. Later, in 2004, in order to deepen economic cooperation, South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was signed. These agreements aim to bolster intra-regional trade among the member states.
- Conflict Diffusion and Reconciliation
SAARC has also served as a facility for conflict de-escalation. For instance, informal talks between India’s and Pakistan’s PMs in the SAARC second summit in Bangalore in 1986 led to de-escalation of tensions, caused by India’s military exercise, Operation Brasstacks, near the Pakistan border. Moreover, informal discussions between India and Sri Lanka at the SAARC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in 1987 led to an agreement between both states on the Tamil issue. So, the platform has served the role of conflict de-escalator in its 39-year lifespan.
- SAARC Covid-19 Fund
SAARC initiated a COVID-19 Emergency Fund in 2020, spearheaded by India, with its initial contribution of $10 million. Pakistan contributed $3m to the Fund, Sri Lanka pledged $5m, Bangladesh gave $1.5m and Afghanistan and Nepal added $1m each. The aim was to help the region fight the pandemic and bring the region back to normal.
Potential of SAARC
- Economic Integration and Growth
SAARC has a significant economic potential as it represents 22% of the world’s population, which represents a large market of goods and services. Through agreements, like SAFTA, and South Asia Economic Union (SAEU), the organization can increase mutual trade among member states. Through joint investments, the league can overcome infrastructure deficits in member countries, which can greatly enhance the economic potential of the region.
- Poverty reduction and socio-economic development
The region is marked by common socio-economic problems, such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and income inequality; however, by pooling resources in education and skill building efforts, the region can lower poverty and unemployment in the region. Additionally, it will in turn generate skilled labor that can be a resource for the region, both domestically and internationally, contributing significantly to economic growth, competitiveness, and innovation.
- Cultural Exchange and Tourism potential
The region has a shared cultural history, so promoting intra-regional travel can enhance mutual understanding and respect, contributing to regional unity. Additionally, projecting South Asia as a tourism destination by simplifying visa processes can boost the regional economy, apart from projecting its soft image across the world.
- Environmental Protection and Agricultural Productivity
There is a strong potential for the member states to collaborate in climate change mitigation efforts to reduce the devastating impacts of climate change in the region. Moreover, member states need to collaborate and make concerted efforts to modernize agriculture, which can overcome the impact of climate change, ensure food security and enhance agricultural produce in the region that can generate substantial foreign earnings for the region.
- Regional Security and Stability
The region is marked with security concerns due to the presence of terror outfits that threaten peace in the region. Cooperation and coordination among the security forces of the member states in the region in terms of intelligence sharing, resources, joint military exercises and joint operations in border areas can eliminate such non-state actors, contributing to regional peace and security.
Challenges with SAARC
- Socio-economic challenges
The region is grappling with poverty and unemployment that has obstructed economic growth and stability, along with discouraging investments in the region. Additionally, member states are struggling with poor education and healthcare facilities that has marred socio-economic development in the region.
- Investment and Economic constraints
SAARC member states have restrictive tax policies, security concerns, and bureaucratic hurdles that repel investments in member states and impede infrastructure development and technological advancements. Such a business environment has hampered the region’s collective progress and prosperity.
- Security and Border Issues
The unresolved tensions of the colonial era and border disputes, such as border conflict between India-Nepal, India-Bangladesh, and Pakistan-India, have hampered cooperation and coordination among the SAARC members in its true essence.
- Patriarchy and Extremism
The region is marked with rising extremism and fundamentalism that has fueled violence in some parts of the region. Additionally, the patriarchal norms dominant in SAARC member states have fostered a gender gap, limiting the role of women in socio-economic development of the region.
- Trust Deficit
One important contributor to the SAARC’s limited growth is the lack of trust among member states. This trust deficit inhibits cooperation in shared social and economic goals of the region, making it far behind the successful regional alliances, like the EU or ASEAN.
Ways Forward
- Enhancing Economic Cooperation
There is a strong need to strengthen SAFTA by reducing tariffs, removing non-tariff barriers, and increasing customs cooperation in order to foster trade among member states. Additionally, investment in the region’s infrastructure is strongly needed, especially in roads, railways, energy, and digital infrastructure. Projects like SAARC Highway must be promoted to increase regional access and reduce transportation costs.
- Resolving Border Disputes
There is an urgent need for the member states to resolve their border disputes through peaceful negotiations. Resolving border disputes will unlock significant potential of the regional alliance, which can bring peace and prosperity in the region.
- Promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections
Member states should ease visa policies, especially for students, businessmen, and tourists from SAARC region. It should promote cultural exchanges to fill the cultural divide and foster understanding. Additionally, SAARC should make all out efforts to project the region as a tourism hub, attracting tourists from all parts of the world. Moreover, a SAARC Youth Exchange Program is required to foster cross-border learning and cultural exchange, helping future generations to better understand the diversity of the region, contributing to a peaceful co-existence.
- Focusing Social and Human Development
The region should focus on initiating collaborative programs for education, vocational training and digital literacy, which will add to region’s competitiveness and contribute to poverty alleviation. Additionally, there is a need to develop a SAARC healthcare framework aimed at addressing serious issues, such as maternal and child health, communicable diseases, and healthcare access in rural areas. Moreover, SAARC should focus on addressing the gender-gap issue. Launching programs, like SAARC Women Empowerment Fund, can support women in pursuing education, and getting the desired skills to get economic opportunities and add to the region’s development efforts.
- Addressing Environmental Challenges
SAARC member states should focus on joining hands to deal with environmental challenges together. They should pool resources and invest them in the most vulnerable areas of the region, thereby increasing the region’s climate resilience and preventing large-scale destruction caused by climate-related disasters.
Conclusion
SAARC, a regional alliance of 8 member states, bears immense potential in changing the economic outlook of the region and increasing regional integration. The union has, in the past, made significant milestones, such as the SAFTA trade agreement, the SAARC specialized bodies and the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, and can contribute to regional peace and prosperity in the future, too, with cooperation and coordination among the member states. Despite challenges in its way, SAARC can perform the desired role for which it was created by ending border disputes in member states, fostering mutual trust and increasing economic cooperation to make it a truly effective and dynamic regional alliance, like the EU or the ASEAN.
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