SAARC is an economic and political organization established in 1985 with 8 member states and over 1.5 billion people. It aims to accelerate economic and social development through cooperation in areas like agriculture, rural development, and health. Major agreements include the SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) and the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) to promote regional trade. However, SAARC has been criticized for avoiding decisive political issues and having limited effectiveness in integrating South Asia.
