Pakistan PM to address 16th ECO Summit in Tashkent, discuss regional connectivity

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is scheduled to address the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit in Tashkent on Thursday and attend a reception arranged in the honor of the leaders of participating countries, confirmed his office in Islamabad.
The ECO, an intergovernmental organization, was established by Pakistan, Iran and Turkiye in 1985 and has since expanded its membership to include Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.
Kakar arrived in Uzbekistan on Wednesday to discuss issues related to enhanced trade and regional connectivity.
“The Prime Minister will meet the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev,” said the PM Office while sharing his schedule for the day. “Bilateral relations of Azerbaijan and Pakistan, regional and global issues will be discussed in the said meeting.”
“The Prime Minister is also expected to visit the historical city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where he will go to the shrine of Hazrat Imam Bukhari,” the statement added.
The Pakistani premier has already held meetings with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and ECO Secretary-General Khusrav Noziri since his arrival in the Central Asian country.
The meetings reviewed the recent developments under the purview of ECO, especially in the domain of trade, connectivity and economic cooperation.
The Pakistan PM also expressed satisfaction at the growing level of bilateral cooperation during his meeting with the Uzbekistan president while emphasizing the importance of sustaining the momentum.
The regional forum aims to utilize the economic potential of its member states that collectively form a mammoth market of over 500 million people by creating increased trade and investment opportunities.

Pakistan PM to address 16th ECO Summit in Tashkent, discuss regional connectivity