PAECO summit: PM calls for collective regional progress

Prime Minister Imran Khan Wednesday stressed upon proper tapping of immense potential and resources of the ten-member Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) for the collective regional progress and prosperity.

Addressing a concluding ceremony of 2nd conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organization (PAECO) countries, the prime minister said that according to estimates, the combined population of these countries stood around 450 million ‘making this region a powerhouse’.

He said all the ECO ten member-countries were blessed with diverse resources and potentials and their proper utilization would be beneficial for all.

The prime minister observed that it were not the countries but the regions which had made progress.

After the formation of European Union, the economic and trade activities cooperation was enhanced bringing economic prosperity in the EU countries, he added.

The prime minister expressed his pleasure over the holding of second conference of PAECO, hoping that it would further pave way for the economic cooperation among the member countries.

He also appreciated the unanimous adoption of Islamabad Declaration which raised voice for the legitimate rights of the people of Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine as enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions and recognized under international laws.

The prime minister also emphasized upon close cooperation and coordination among the ECO member states by galvanizing their joint efforts to mitigate adverse effects of the global warming which had been impacting the glacial areas of the member countries including Tajikistan.

“If strict measures are not taken, the countries in the region will have to face different problems,” he said while prodding for immediate cooperation to control steep rise in temperatures.

The prime minister said they had planted one billion trees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and now implementing the ambitious project of ten billion trees across Pakistan, out of which a target of planting one billion was recently met.

He urged the ECO member countries to take active part in the global efforts over climate change.

The prime minister also underlined the need for peaceful transition in Afghanistan after withdrawal of US forces as it would ensure peace and stability in the region.

He said situation in Afghanistan would impact all countries of region.

Earlier, PAECO president and Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Asad Qaiser, lauded the revival of PAECO which had been dormant for long after its formation in Islamabad.

He also appreciated the member countries for adoption of the Islamabad Declaration which strongly supported the people of Kashmir and Palestine, condemning the atrocities and human rights violations.

He expressed his optimism that the declaration would further help strengthen the economic and trade cooperation in the region besides, promoting regional connectivity.

Speakers of the respective parliaments of the member countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Iran and others addressed the concluding session.