Pakistan hosts ECO ministerial meeting in Islamabad to boost regional trade, connectivity

Foreign ministers and senior officials from Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for the 30th ECO Council of Ministers meeting. Pakistan, which prepares to assume the ECO chairmanship for 2026-27, seeks to strengthen regional trade, transport links and economic integration, state-run APP reported.

What is on the agenda of the ECO ministerial meeting in Islamabad?

Pakistan is a founding member of the ECO and has hosted several major summits and ministerial meetings. The meeting is expected to adopt the Islamabad Declaration and approve ECO Vision 2035, a 10-year framework for connectivity, integration and sustainable growth, and Pakistan will seek progress on two trade and transit agreements.

Pakistan will also seek progress on the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) and the Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA). Both are intended to facilitate regional commerce and improve cross-border movement of goods and people.

Who is attending the ECO ministerial meeting in Islamabad?

The gathering brings together foreign ministers and senior representatives from member countries, along with officials from regional and international organizations. Arrivals included Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Deputy Secretary-General Ahmad Saidmurodzoda and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issagaliyev is leading his country's delegation. Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklikaya and Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov are also heading their respective delegations, according to a Foreign Office spokesperson. Officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the visiting officials at Islamabad International Airport.

How does Pakistan plan to boost regional trade through the ECO?

The discussions are expected to showcase Pakistan's potential as a regional connectivity hub. The proposed Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway project and expanded trade links with Central Asian countries are expected to feature prominently.

Pakistan has bilateral trade agreements with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Building on these, it plans to engage ECO partners on practical steps to increase commerce, improve transit arrangements and strengthen regional supply chains.

What is Pakistan's role in the ECO?

Pakistan is a founding member of the ECO and also hosts several ECO institutions. It currently holds the secretary-general's office through Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan, whose term runs until 2027.

Officials view the ministerial meeting as an opportunity to strengthen Pakistan's diplomatic standing and deepen economic cooperation with regional partners. They also see it as preparation for major international engagements, including future ECO and SCO summits.