Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, called for worldwide criticism of Israel’s activities in Gaza on Thursday, calling Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Addressing the 16th ECO Summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the interim PM called for holding Israel responsible for its actions in the Gaza Strip, describing the ongoing bombardment as “incessant and lethal.” He emphasized the need to address the issue in line with relevant UNSC and OIC resolutions and urged ECO member states to advocate for a Gaza ceasefire, support humanitarian assistance, and work collectively to hold Israel accountable.
Discussing the ECO summit, the caretaker premier stressed the importance of realizing and achieving the organization’s goals and objectives, emphasizing that a well-connected region could bring significant economic and peace benefits. He expressed delight at Pakistan’s upcoming ECO Secretary General and hoped for cooperation from member states in advancing ECO’s principles and purposes.
Highlighting the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad corridor as a significant development, the interim PM mentioned Pakistan’s efforts to upgrade rail and road infrastructure to facilitate trade. He called for the notification of more border crossing points in the ECO region to enhance trade operations and create an enabling environment for the private sector.
The caretaker PM announced the establishment of a Special Investment Facilitation Council in Pakistan, serving as a single-window platform for multi-domain cooperation, including agriculture, defense production, IT, energy, and mining. Acknowledging Afghanistan’s crucial role in regional connectivity, he emphasized the strategic importance of projects like CASA-1000, Trans Afghan railways, and TAPI, expressing Pakistan’s commitment to collaborating with ECO countries for a peaceful and interconnected Afghanistan.
Regarding the ECO trade agreement quota, the interim PM hailed it as a landmark preferential trade arrangement, urging all member states to sign the quota to promote regional trade expansion.
Earlier, PM Kakar met with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, reviewing bilateral relations in trade, defense, and energy. In a post-meeting statement, the interim PM described the interaction with President Aliyev as constructive.
“Our trade, defense, and energy connections are on the rise. The introduction of direct AZAL flights will enhance our connectivity. Together, we tackle global issues such as Islamophobia and climate change,” he stated.
On a two-day visit to Uzbekistan starting Wednesday, the PM is scheduled to participate in a reception for summit leaders and visit the shrine of Imam Bukhari in Samarkand.
During the visit, he met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The caretaker PM shared on X that both countries are dedicated to expediting the Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway to strengthen regional ties.
Established in 1964 as the Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Republic of Türkiye, the Forum underwent a name change in 1985, becoming the Economic Cooperation Organization.
As stated on its website, the foundational and primary objective of the Organization is to foster favorable conditions for sustained economic development in the region, with a focus on promoting the collective welfare and well-being of its Member States.
