Saeed, Khawaja Amjad creator text xu| 1999 continuing ng p.1-9 One of the main objectives of SAARC is to promote economic growth in the member countries. The SAARC Charter of 1985 has identified eleven areas of cooperation among the member countries. A new direction towards economic cooperation among the member countries was given with the signing of South Asian Preferential Trading Agreement in 1995. This agreement called for gradual reduction and eventual elimination of tariffs within SAARC. Further steps are being taken for creating South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). The economic cooperation among the SAARC countries is aimed to be further developed by creation of SAARC Economic Union by 2008. The paper deals with various necessary steps towards realizing this laudable goal. - Reproduced South asian association for regional cooperation Administration and Management Review 180718