Genesis of SHRDC

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a manifestation of the determination of the people’s of South Asia to work together towards finding solutions to their common problems in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. The main objective of the association is to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States through joint action in the agreed areas of cooperation.

The Heads of the States are Governments of SAARC Member Countries emphasized the need to progressively carry out the SAARC activities with a broad framework of a long term perspective and to harmonize their effects to ensure tangible benefits to the people of the SAARC region. Towards this end, they recognized that HRD is one of the means of realizing the SAARC objectives. They agreed to establish the SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) with main object to undertake research, impart training and disseminate information on HRD related issues and advise the Member States on HRD related policies and strategies. The Government of Pakistan offered to host the Centre at Islamabad in Pakistan. Since this institution came into being the Centre was at organizational stage for the last two-three years. On recruitment of its initial staff strength in 2002 the Centre has become functional. The last meeting of the third SHRDC Governing Board recommended a number of programmes of activities which were subsequently approved by the Fourth Special Session of the SAARC Standing Committee in July, 2003. The Centre is now making all-out efforts to complete the implementation of all the approved programmes of 2003.