SAARC is celebrating its silver jubilee at the 16th SAARC Summit being hosted by Bhutan in Thimpu for the first time since establishment of this organisation. This summit has a special importance as it is aimed at tackling climate change issues globally and regionally. The Summit theme 'Towards green & happy South Asia, highlights aspirations of the participants. But there is a question mark on the pious wish inherent in this declaration. The facts show a complete failure of the SAARC in carrying out all avowed objectives of the past. Launched with proclamations of fostering political, economic, cultural and lingual cooperation within the member states to create a regional union, the mere Kashmir dispute and a war in Sri Lanka has failed SAARC. The slow pace of economic integration is such that trade between the member countries is negligible, almost unmentionable. It is still mentioned as a desirable concept between seminars and photo sessions but that is about all. The climate change hazards, poverty, scarcity of energy & water, power shortfalls, terrorism, a burgeoning food crisis and stagnant economies of most member countries, are core issues of the region but SAARC has no solutions to offer on them, at least not at present. If Thimpu changes all or a few of this, SAARC would suddenly have a meaning it has been lacking to this day. -DR SAIF UR REHMAN, Jamshoro, April 27.