Pakistan

PM Abbasi emphasises upon need for greater connectivity among ECO member states

Secretary-General ECO lauded Pakistan's contributions towards making ECO a vibrant body

Sardar Sikander January 31, 2018

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. PHOTO: APP/FILE

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday stressed upon the need for greater trade, connectivity and tourism promotion among Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states.

Secretary-General Economic Cooperation Organisation Ambassador Halil Ibrahim Akca called on PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at Prime Minister Office today.

Welcoming ECO Secretary-General and his delegation to Pakistan, PM Abbasi said that Pakistan extends full support to the organisation in promoting bilateral as well as multilateral cooperation among the ECO member countries. He reiterated Pakistan’s continued commitment to play an active role for regional integration and strengthening multi-faceted cooperation through the ECO platform.

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The prime minister observed that there exists huge potential between the ECO member states for trade enhancement, regional connectivity, tourism promotion and cementing people to people contacts. He said that ECO could play a critical role towards advancing these goals and bringing the people further closer to each other.

ECO secretary-general thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and said that ECO Secretariat was actively working on putting in place a framework for promoting trade, enhancing regional connectivity through greater rail and road links and tourism promotion besides other areas of mutual benefit.

He said that ECO was also actively involved in promoting cooperation among the member states to enable them to cope with the existing challenges.

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Acknowledging Pakistan’s active role in advancing ECO goals, ECO secretary general appreciated Pakistan’s contributions towards making the ECO a vibrant body for strengthening multi-faceted cooperation between the ECO member countries.

Ambassador Halil Ibrahim Akca expressed the hope that the two-day 3rd Economic Cooperation Organisation attorneys/prosecutors general conference being held in Islamabad would be instrumental in putting in place an effective mechanism of cooperation among the member countries to combat serious crimes including drug trafficking, human smuggling, cyber crimes and other serious offences.