\u2013Stresses reforms, actions to realise ECO objective for economic, peace dividends
\nTASHKENT
\nCaretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar while reiterating Pakistan\u2019s commitment to ECO Vision 2025, called for collective efforts and accelerated reforms to achieve the Organisation\u2019s objectives and region\u2019s trade potential for bringing \u201ccolossal\u201d economic and peace dividends.
\nAddressing the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in Takhkent on Thursday, Prime Minister Kakar said \u201cLet us make ECO an organisation not just of words, but actions, not just commitments but implementation. It is crucial for us to work collectively and diligently to realise the goals and objectives of the Organisation\u2026 Our region, if well connected, can bring colossal economic and peace dividends for our people.\u201d
\nThe prime minister\u2019s address encompassed an array of issues including the ECO\u2019s existing trade and true potential, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Islamophobia as well as the ECO projects of regional connectivity.
\nHe said being blessed with natural resources, geographical linkages and cultural heritage, ECO region had been unable to exploit its true trade potential as it had just two percent share in global trade and eight percent in intraregional trade.
\nHe said in 2022, the trade within the ECO region was recorded at $39 billion against $577 billion with the world and the intraregion exports also stood at $46 billion.
\nHe said the ECO Vision 2025, which was adopted by the 13th ECO summit in Islamabad had called for increasing regional trade, strengthening connectivity, operationalising major transport corridors and seeking energy security.
\nCalling for deliberations to expand share in the global and intra-region trade, he emphasised reducing barriers, developing infrastructure, and formulating environment-friendly and sustainable policies besides reducing poverty.
\nPrime Minister Kakar supported the ECO\u2019s corridor-based approach like Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI), Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul\u201d (ITI), Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran (KTI) and others and said the integrated transport projects would help promote trade and connectivity.
\nMentioning the revival of the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad rail project, the prime minister said Pakistan was upgrading its rail infrastructure to speed up the flow of goods. He also called for opening more border points within the ECO region to enhance connectivity and trade.
\nHe said the connectivity projects would also facilitate the private sector and widen the scope of business and investment.
\nThe prime minister told the regional leaders that Pakistan had established a one-window platform of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) bringing together all trade-related organisations under one umbrella.
\nThe government had identified and focused on five areas of investment including agriculture, defence production, IT, energy and mining.
\nHighlighting the significance of Afghanistan in regional connectivity and execution of regional projects like CASA-1000, Trans Afghan Railway and TAPI, the prime minister said Pakistan was working closely with the ECO countries to achieve the shared goal of peaceful and interconnected Afghanistan.
\nComing to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Prime Minister Kakar said the incessant and lethal Israeli bombardment on Gaza was a deplorable act calling for international condemnation.
\nHe said the situation needed to be addressed as per the OIC and UNSC resolutions and urged the ECO countries to push for a ceasefire and support the call for the provision of humanitarian aid, besides rallying efforts to hold Israel to account.
\n\u201cWith the elimination of children, I recall in the history when Pharoa, on the advent of the Moses\u2019 birth killed children. And now, unfortunately, the people who claim to be the followers of Moses, are following the footpath of Pharoa,\u201d he remarked.
\nReiterating Pakistan\u2019s strong condemnation, the prime minister called for rallying behind and encouraging to have a humanitarian corridor to help out the suffering Palestinian people.
\nThe prime minister also apprised the regional leaders of the unabated Indian atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and said emphasised ECO countries to support Kashmiris in achieving their right of self-determination.
\nThe prime minister also touched upon the issues of intolerance, violence and xenophobia and called upon the ECO members and international community to work for building legal deterrence against Islamophobia while maintaining mutual respect, and harmony and co-existence.
\nPrime Minister Kakar thanked Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, also the chair of the 16th summit, for warm hospitality and the ECO Secretary Ambassador Khusrav NOZIRI for his role in strengthening the Organisation.
\nHe said as Pakistan would be holding the office of ECO secretary general next year, he expressed the hope that the member countries would extend their support to the country to help achieve the ECO objectives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2013Stresses reforms, actions to realise ECO objective for economic, peace dividends TASHKENT Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar while reiterating Pakistan\u2019s commitment to ECO Vision 2025, called for collective efforts and accelerated reforms to achieve the Organisation\u2019s objectives and region\u2019s trade potential for bringing \u201ccolossal\u201d economic and peace dividends. Addressing the 16th summit of the Economic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":367152,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-367134","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n