ISLAMABAD, Nov 15 (DNA):Pakistan will host the 30th Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Council of Ministers in Islamabad on Sunday, bringing together foreign ministers and senior representatives from member states, as well as regional and international organizations.
As the incoming ECO Chair for 2026-27, Pakistan aims to promote greater regional cooperation in trade, transport, investment and sustainable development.
The meeting is expected to adopt the Islamabad Declaration and approve ECO Vision 2035, a new ten-year framework to strengthen regional connectivity, economic integration, and sustainable growth.
Pakistan will also push for progress on the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and the Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) to facilitate trade and improve cross-border movement across the region.
The conference will highlight Pakistan’s role as a regional connectivity hub, particularly through initiatives such as the proposed Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway project and expanding trade links with Central Asian states.
Building on the momentum of bilateral trade agreements with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, Pakistan will engage ECO partners on practical measures to expand commerce, improve transit arrangements, and strengthen regional supply chains.
A founding member of ECO, Pakistan has hosted several major ECO summits and ministerial meetings and currently hosts a number of ECO institutions.
The country also holds the ECO Secretary General’s office through Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan, who is serving until 2027.
Officials view the ministerial meeting as an opportunity to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic profile, advance economic cooperation with regional partners and prepare for major international engagements, including future ECO and SCO summits.
