PREMIER Anwar ul Haq Kakar on the occasion of ECO Summit in Tashkent called for enhanced economic ties between Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries to tap trade potential. Addressing the 16th ECO Summit Kakar urged collective efforts and accelerated reforms to achieve the organization’s objectives for bringing colossal economic and peace dividends. It is crucial for Pakistan to work collectively and diligently to realize the goals and objectives of the organization. Calling for deliberations to expand share in the global and intra-region trade, Kakar emphasized reducing barriers, developing infrastructure and formulating environment-friendly and sustainable policies, besides reducing poverty.
The ECO’s corridor-based approach like Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran, Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul and integrated transport projects will help promote trade and connectivity. The ECO, which groups Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, aims to improve development and promote trade in the region. A member of the organization since November 1992, independent Uzbekistan hosted for the first time a multilateral summit within the framework of ECO.
The member countries need to 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 in our region, if well connected, can bring colossal economic and peace dividends for our people. Premier Kakar reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to the ECO Vision 2025, called for collective efforts and accelerated reforms to achieve the Organisation’s objectives and region’s trade potential for bringing colossal economic and peace dividends.
Being blessed with natural resources, geographical linkages and cultural heritage, the 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. Kakar’s address encompassed an array of issues, including the ECO’s existing trade and true potential, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Indian atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Islamophobia as well as the ECO’s projects of regional connectivity. The ECO Vision 2025, which was adopted by the 13th ECO Summit in Islamabad, had called for increasing regional trade, strengthening connectivity, operationalizing major transport corridors and seeking energy security.
In 2022, the trade within the ECO region was recorded at $39 billion against $577 billion with the world and the intra-region exports also stood at $46 billion. Calling 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. Mentioning 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.
PM Kakar supported the ECO’s corridor-based approach like Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI), Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI), Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran (KTI) and others, and said the integrated transport projects would help promote trade and connectivity. The connectivity projects would also facilitate the private sector, and widen the scope of business and investment. Highlighting the significance of Afghanistan in regional connectivity and execution of regional projects like CASA-1000, Trans Afghan Railway and TAPI, the Premier said that Pakistan was working closely with the ECO countries to achieve the shared goal of peaceful and interconnected Afghanistan.
To enhance economic activities Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad train will commence operation next year. Pakistan had established a one-window platform of the Special Investment Facilitation Council bringing together all trade-related organisations under one umbrella. The government had identified and focused on five areas of investment, including agriculture, defence production, information technology, energy and mining. The situation needed to be addressed as per the resolutions of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and United Nations Security Council (UNSC), 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. Coming to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, he also said that incessant and lethal Israeli bombardment on Gaza was a deplorable act calling for international condemnation.
Kakar also apprised the regional leaders of the unabated Indian atrocities in the IIOJ&K, and emphasised the ECO countries to support Kashmiris in achieving their right of self-determination. Reiterating Pakistan’s strong condemnation, the PM called for rallying behind and encouraging to have a humanitarian corridor to help out the suffering Palestinians. Regarding the issues of intolerance, violence and xenophobia, the ECO members and international community need to work for building legal deterrence against Islamophobia and maintain mutual respect, harmony and co-existence. Pakistan would be holding the office of ECO Secretary General next year. Hope the member countries including Afghanistan would extend support to the member countries to help achieve the ECO objectives.
—The writer is editor, book ambassador political analyst and author of several books based in Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
