Pakistan for creating growth opportunities

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has emphasised the need for creating more opportunities for economic growth and mutual stability within the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) region.

"We believe in transforming challenges into opportunities," he stated while addressing an ECO ministerial meeting in Tehran on Monday. He was heading a delegation from Pakistan.

The two-day huddle was attended by ministers from 10 member countries including Pakistan, Turkiye, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Delegates from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and host country Iran also participated. Abdul Aleem Khan said that Pakistan holds strategic importance in the region and was particularly committed to developing road networks, enhancing land connectivity and establishing trade corridors. He reiterated Pakistan's priority to strengthen ties among ECO member states while referring to the Vision 2025 established during the ECO summit held in Islamabad in 2017.

The communications minister highlighted the ongoing efforts to integrate Pakistan's rail and road corridors with the broader ECO network. In that regard, he cited major projects such as CPEC and aligning with the Euro-Asian Transport Links and the Asian Highway Network as national priorities. He elaborated that Pakistan has connected its northern border at Khunjerab to the seaports of Gwadar and Karachi and has also developed road networks to create linkages with Iran and Afghanistan. "Pakistan is undergoing a digital transformation in the communications sector, which will bring substantial long-term benefits," he remarked.