Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar embarked on a significant journey to Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Wednesday, with the primary purpose of participating in the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) summit scheduled for November 8-9.
Accompanying the premier on this diplomatic mission were Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and distinguished members of the federal cabinet, as confirmed by state-run Radio Pakistan.
The Foreign Office, in a press release issued the preceding Tuesday, underlined the premier’s objective at the summit, emphasizing Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the ECO Vision 2025. The nation’s dedication also extends to fostering regional cooperation across various domains, including trade, transport, connectivity, energy, tourism, and economic growth and productivity.
During the summit, Prime Minister Kakar is slated to present Pakistan’s visionary perspective for the organization’s future endeavors, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and fostering mutual prosperity. His agenda further includes engaging in bilateral discussions with the leadership of Uzbekistan and other key participants.
The Economic Cooperation Organisation, established in Tehran in 1985, serves as a pivotal regional interstate forum. Pakistan, as one of the founding members, remains steadfast in its commitment to the overarching goals of enhancing connectivity and promoting mutual prosperity within the ECO region, as highlighted in the official statement.
Notably, this ECO summit is of exceptional significance as Uzbekistan assumes the role of host for the very first time.
Moreover, it has been disclosed by a Prime Minister’s Office source, in communication with Dawn, that following his return from Tashkent, Prime Minister Kakar is scheduled to proceed to Saudi Arabia on Friday. This visit is in line with his commitment to attend the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s emergency conference on Palestine.
In a press conference held today, Kakar briefly outlined the primary objective of the impending OIC conference. The conference aims to facilitate the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Gaza, a region marred by an unfortunate toll of over 10,000 Palestinian casualties since October 7.
