PM Karki Calls for Stronger, United SAARC on 41st Charter Day

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has emphasized the need to strengthen the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and make it a more active, inclusive, and results-oriented regional organization.

On the 41st SAARC Charter Day, PM Karki extended her best wishes to the governments and people of all member countries. She said that the region can achieve common goals by coming together, addressing shared challenges, and meeting the needs of its people.

“Almost 40 years ago, our founding leaders dreamed of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous South Asia. Their vision created SAARC as a platform to promote cooperation, friendship, and the welfare of our peoples,” she said.

PM Karki highlighted that SAARC has played an important role in promoting understanding, building trust, and carrying out projects to improve living conditions in the region. She said the SAARC Charter continues to guide efforts to strengthen self-reliance, create a shared regional identity, and tackle issues like food and energy security, climate change, digital inequality, and poverty.

As the current Chair of SAARC, Nepal is committed to working closely with all member countries with friendship, unity, and consensus, following the principles of the SAARC Charter.

PM Karki expressed confidence that joint efforts could speed up development and bring real benefits to nearly a quarter of the world’s population living in South Asia. She hopes that this Charter Day inspires renewed commitment, stronger cooperation, and a sense of regional unity.

SAARC was founded on December 8, 1985, with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It has eight member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Its Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on January 17, 1987.

The SAARC Summit, held by the Heads of State or Government, is the organization’s highest decision-making body. Summits are usually held every two years and hosted by member countries in alphabetical order. So far, 18 summits have taken place, with the last one held in Kathmandu on November 26–27, 2014. No summit has been held since then.

All decisions in SAARC are made unanimously, and any bilateral or sensitive issues are kept outside formal discussions, as required by the SAARC Charter.