During the Ninth SAARC Summit (Male, May 1997), the Heads of State or Government noted that inadequate communications facilities amongst the Member States were a major hindrance to closer economic cooperation. They stressed on the importance of developing infrastructure and adequate communications networks among Member Countries to reinforce the process of economic cooperation. In this context, they highlighted the need for the simplification of complex documentation procedures and transactional software to facilitate economic interaction across the region.

Pursuant to the above decision, the First SAARC Communications Ministers' Conference was held in Colombo in May 1998. It adopted a Plan of Action on Telecommunications to give impetus to the telecommunications sector in the region.

The Second Meeting of the Communications Ministers held in Islamabad in June 2004 adopted the SAARC Plan of Action in 2004. It has these goals and objectives: (a) to promote cooperation in the enhancement of telecommunication links and utilization of information technologies within the region; (b) to minimize disparities within and among Member States in the telecommunications field; (c) to harness telecommunication technology for the social and economic upliftment of the region through infrastructure development by optimal sharing of available resources and enhanced cooperation in technology transfer, standardization and human resource development; and (d) to evolve a coordinated approach on issues of common concern in international telecommunications fora.

The Ministers agreed to adopt the following SAARC Plan of Action on Telecommunications: (i) Telecom tariffs within the SAARC region should be reduced to the lowest extent feasible within the framework of cost orientation based on International benchmarks; (ii) For Intra-regional traffic within SAARC countries, efforts should be made to utilize either direct links or hubbing / transit facility within the region by 2005; (iii) Member States should offer special rates for transiting /hubbing regional traffic and utilize the facilities of other members for their overflow traffic. For this purpose, licensed International long distance operators should be encouraged to frequently negotiate agreements for offering lowest possible tariffs; and (iv) Intra-regional communications for the traveller and entrepreneur should be facilitated by promotion of country direct services, calling cards, cellular roaming and liberalized leased lines within the regulatory frameworks of the Member States. Besides, the Plan envisages complete digitalization of inter-country links, human resource development in telecom sector; development of rural services with affordable tariffs etc...

The Second Conference also adopted Common Position on issues of concern to the region in Telecommunications sector to be presented at the World Summit for Information Society (WSIS), Tunis, November 2005. The Conference also considered the current situation in the SAARC Member States on digital divide and decided that more concerted efforts were required to improve the situation. It urged the Member States to share their successful initiatives for development of ICT within the region. The task of developing performance indicators was assigned to the SAARC Working Group on Telecommunications, and ICT. It was further decided that fellowships and training programmes would be offered by Member States. SAARC Secretariat would coordinate this activity. The need to utilize training facility at SAARC Human Resource Development Centre, Islamabad was also underlined. Besides, the Conference recognized the need for continued cooperation with Asia Pacific Telecommunity.

It was decided that the Third Conference would be held in India in the first quarter of 2005. An exhibition of ICT related products developed and manufactured in the region would also be organized concomitantly with the Conference.

In view of growing importance of telecommunications, during the Twelfth SAARC Summit (Islamabad, January 2004) it was decided to create a new Working Group on Telecommunication, and Information and Communications Technology. The First Meeting of the Group is to be held in New Delhi on 20-21 September 2004.

Dissemination of information about SAARC and its member countries remains one of the priority areas of the Association. Various bodies periodically meet, review progress on earlier decisions and chalk out new programmes and activities to further strengthen the information and media matters among member countries. The details of work programme carried out by each body can be viewed by clicking the respective links.

The highest body to strengthen the information and media related matters among member countries is SAARC Information Ministers. This was decided in New Delhi in December 1996 by the Council of Ministers at its Seventeenth Session while recognising the importance of exchange of information and its dissemination amongst Member Countries, who called for the convening of Meeting of SAARC Information Ministers. The first meeting of the SAARC Information Ministers was held in Dhaka in 1998, which adopted the Plan of Action on Information and Media. The Plan of Action identified a number of activities to be undertaken by Member States, inter-a/ia, to ensure a free flow of information, newspapers, periodicals, books and other publications; to increase cooperation amongst news agencies of SAARC countries; to facilitate easier travel for media persons within the region; to set up a SAARC recognised Regional Media Forum; to hold annual conferences of editors and journalists; to promote regular exchanges of TV/Radio programmes; to train media persons; to evolve guidelines on transnational satellites; to establish a SAARC satellite; and to consider setting up a SAARC Information Centre as well as a SAARC Media Development Fund.

The Tenth SAARC Summit approved the Plan of Action on Media and Information and called for concerted endeavours for the promotion of practical programmes among South Asian countries in the field of information and media.

The Second Meeting of the SAARC Information Ministers (Islamabad, March 2002) while reviewing the status of implementation of the Dhaka Plan of Action, proposed to set up a SAARC Media Development Fund to promote media linkage within the region to: evolve a SAARC recognized Regional Media Forum; develop model guidelines on transnational satellite broadcasting in the region; establish a SAARC Information Centre; and project and strengthen the South Asian identity beyond the region. The Ministers agreed to convene annual Conferences of Editors and Working Journalists as well as to offer training opportunities for journalists in Member Countries. The Ministers also reviewed the functioning of the SAVE Committee. The proposal of Pakistan to institute a SAARC Award on Folk Music was welcomed by the Ministers.

In order to boost cooperation in information sector, the Information Ministers at the Third Meeting in New Delhi in November 2003 decided to initiate weekly SAARC Radio News programmes and monthly SAARC Television News programme ‘SAARC Radio Bulletin’ and ‘SAARC TV Bulletin’, respectively, at all national channels of member countries. The member countries are in the process of implementing the above decision.

Initially, the body consisting of Heads of National TV and Radio organizations of member countries was created in 1998 as a supervisory body to monitor the activities of the SAVE Committee. In due course, its role has been expanded including recommendations on policy level decisions to the Information Ministers pertaining to strengthening the electronic media in member countries.

The Plan of Action on Media and Information called for annual meetings of the Heads of TV/Radio Organisations of Member Countries. Accordingly, the first meeting took place in New Delhi in November 1999, which reviewed the activities of the SAVE Committee and made recommendations to improve the quality of SAVE programmes. Similarly, the second meeting in Islamabad in January 2003 decided that a weekly Radio news entitled "SAARC News" of 5-10 minutes duration as well as a monthly programme of 15 minutes entitled "SAARC Roundup" for TV would go on air from February. This was decided as per the directives of the SAARC Information Ministers, who emphasised on daily exchange of TV and Radio news among Member Countries.

The next meeting also reviewed the progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action on Media and Information which was adopted by Information Ministers with the objective to encourage free flow of information and to strengthen cooperation in the field of media. Among new projects, a Children's Video Film Festival will go on air in December 2004. Establishment of the music archives of SAARC region is under way. Production of a video documentary entitled "SAARC in New Millennium" with translation in national languages is planned to be completed in 2005. A revised Plan of Action on information and media is also under consideration.

With a view to digitalization of national channels of Television and Radio of member countries, it has been decided to hold a meeting of technical experts on the subject in the Maldives during this year. Their recommendations would be considered by high authorities.

Recognising the vital role that greater cooperation among Member Countries of SAARC in the field of Information and Media may play in the promotion of peace, progress and harmony in South Asia as well as the fundamental SAARC ethos and values highlighting the importance of regional cooperation, the First Meeting of Information Ministers of SAARC countries held in Dhaka on 25-26 April 1998 adopted a Comprehensive Strategy for Cooperation in the field of Media and Information with the following goals and objectives:

To actively encourage greater flow of information in the SAARC region on all issues of common concern to Member Countries for the promotion of peace and harmony in South Asia as well as sustained development of all peoples of the region.
To generate, disseminate and exchange information materials in support of SAARC and all SAARC initiatives in important areas with special emphasis on trade and investment, social and cultural development, functional cooperation, environmental protection and human resource development.
To promote the optimal utilisation of available resources and facilities in the SAARC region to strengthen cooperation in the field of media and information and upgrade the professionalism of media persons through human resource development programmes and regional exchanges.
To initiate collective regional actions to enable Member Countries to fully benefit from the use of new technologies to ensure greater flow of information within the region and between South Asia and the outside world.
To consistently work to project and promote a positive image of SAARC abroad as well as provide regular information on specific SAARC initiatives.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the Information Ministers agreed to implement the following SAARC Plan of Action on Media and Information to promote cooperation to

Ensure free flow of information, newspapers, periodicals, books and other publications.
Reduce postal and telecommunication rates for media transmission and information materials.
Increase cooperation amongst news agencies of SAARC countries.
Facilitate easier travel for media persons within the region.
Work towards the evolution of a SAARC recognized Regional Media Forum.
Hold an annual conference of editors and working journalists from SAARC countries.
Create a web page for exchange of news amongst news agencies of SAARC countries.
Enhance exchange of data through E-mail and Internet.
Arrange regular exchange of TV and Radio programmes.
Organise regular exchange and joint production of documentaries and films as well as holding of periodic SAARC film festivals.
Arrange training for media persons of SAARC countries.
Include SAARC orientation modules in the syllabi of national media training institutes.
Improve the programmes under the SAARC Audio Visual Exchange Programme (SAVE) by making them more attractive and popular and increasing their frequency.
Hold annual meetings of heads of national TV/Radio organisations to review the SAVE Programmes.
Evolve model guidelines on transnational satellite broadcasting in the region.
Examine the financial and technical feasibility of establishing a SAARC satellite.
Explore the feasibility of setting up a SAARC Information Centre with Media Production, Research and Training units as well as a SAARC Media Development Fund.
Discourage negative projection of member countries by media in SAARC countries.
The Ministers agreed that an appropriate mechanism should be set up to oversee the implementation of the SAARC Plan of Action on Media and Information.

We, the Information Ministers and the representatives of the Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) met at New Delhi on 11-12 November 2003 and agreed to submit a SAARC common position on issues pertaining to information and telecommunications before the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), scheduled to be held in Geneva from 10-12 December 2003;

Recalling the Resolution 73 of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Minneapolis, 1998 and also Resolutions 56/183 (11January 2002) and 56/258 (4 April 2002) adopted by UN General Assembly regarding Summit on Information Society and General Assembly Meeting devoted to Information and Communication Technologies for development respectively;

Recalling the directives of the Tenth SAARC Summit that SAARC Countries coordinate their positions on issues of common interest at international and other fora;

Recalling also the recommendations of the First Meeting of the SAARC Information Ministers (Dhaka, April 1998), and the Dhaka Communiqué – a SAARC Plan of Action on Media and Information and also decision of the SAARC Council of Ministers at its Twenty-second Session in Kathmandu in December 2001, for evolving a common position at the World Summit on Information Society;

Emphasizing the need of the commitment at the national, regional and international levels to promote knowledge on information and communication technologies for the development of SAARC region;

Recognizing that media and communication are of pivotal importance in promoting regional cooperation;

Expressing the hope that the international community would forge at various international conferences and meetings having a bearing on issues relating to ICT, including Digital Divide;

Noting that the World Summit on the Information Society is expected to adopt a Declaration of Principles and an Action Plan to facilitate the effective growth of the Information Society;

Urging the World Summit on Information Society in Geneva to be held from 10-12 December 2003 to take into account and reflect in its final outcome the following perspectives and recommendation on ICT of the SAARC Member States to:

Adopt policy of assisting and expanding community based telecasters, particularly in rural areas with facilities of television, internet, email, telephone and radio.
Devise an appropriate globally enforceable legal instrument to combat cyber crime.
Improve free flow of information in the developing world by building adequate communication network.
Promote close relations between the international news agencies and regional news agencies.
Ensure that information is accessible and technology is affordable by all.
Encourage and support public service broadcasting.
Enhance cooperation in the areas of capacity building, research activities, information sharing and human resource development.
Encourage projection of development activities and other achievements in different fields through media in the region.
Stress the importance of developing information and communication technologies (ICT) networks in developing countries to reinforce the process of economic cooperation.
Treat ICT as a multi-faceted process enhancing socio-economic development in the region and not purely as a source of revenue.
Acquire optimum benefits for all sectors, particularly the rural; it is proposed that specific strategies conducive to regional cooperation be adopted.
Minimize disparities in the use of ICT to bridge the digital divide and to develop the information society, and
Harness telecommunication technology (e.g. distance learning, tele-medicine, e-governance, and e-commerce) for the social and economic upliftment of the region.
The development of media in each country, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is crucial to any conception of the Information Society. Freedom of access to and use of information for the creation, accumulation and dissemination of knowledge are important principles of the Information Society. Traditional media in all its forms will continue to have an important role in the Information Society and ICTs should play a supportive role in this regard.

The SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) Committee is one of the original areas agreed at the inception of the SAARC. It aimed at increasing the awareness of each other among the peoples of the region and disseminating information about Member Countries was established by the Council of Ministers at its Third Session (New Delhi, June 1987). The Committee has been entrusted with the task of producing and implementing the SAVE Programmes.

The twenty-second meeting of the SAVE Committee (Thimphu, March 2004) finalized SAVE Radio programmes and SAVE TV programmes on various themes for broadcast and telecast on national channels of Radio and TV. The Committee recognized the usefulness of SAARC Radio and TV Music Festival to promote regional culture. It decided to air Radio and TV Music Festivals on regular basis. ‘Child’ is the theme for this years music festivals.

The SAVE programmes include joint productions on thematic issues such as the Environment, Disabled Persons, Youth, Literacy, Participatory Governance, Safe and Clean Water, and Mountains and Hills. For 2004, “Empowerment of Women” will be the theme for Radio Joint Production and “Environmental Conservation” for TV Joint Production.

The Committee decided to hold Seventh and Eighth SAARC TV Quiz in Sri Lanka, and the Fifth SAARC Radio Quiz would take place in New Delhi this year. Both TV and Radio quiz will now take place during September/October every year and the level of participation is the students of high school.

In order to strengthen cooperation in the field of print media, the SAARC Plan of Action on “Media and Information” called for holding the annual Conferences of Editors and Working Journalists of Member Countries. Its main responsibility is to make appropriate recommendations on strengthening free flow of information among member countries, providing platform for trainings to working journalists, efforts to liberalise visas for journalists etc.

Accordingly, the First Conference of Editors and Working Journalists of SAARC countries was held in Dhaka on 1-2 November 2003. It deliberated on overall situation of print media and working journalists in member countries. This body has also recommended the establishment of SAARC Media Development Fund for the welfare of the working journalists. Its next meeting is scheduled to be held in India this year.

On strengthening information related activities, SAARC has established two Regional Centres e.g. SAARC Documentation Centre and SAARC Information Centre.