Dar urges ECO states to deepen regional cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on Economic Cooperation Organisation member states to strengthen regional cooperation, warning that the grouping represents nearly half a billion people yet accounts for only about 2.2 percent of global trade. He was addressing the 27th informal ECO Council of Ministers meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Pakistan holds the council chair for 2026-27.

Dar expressed concern over the security situation across the region and the Middle East and said Pakistan remained committed to peaceful resolution of disputes under international law. He said Pakistan had been engaging with regional partners to support diplomatic outcomes and that progress made through those efforts should be preserved.

As chair, Pakistan outlined priorities including trade integration, connectivity, transit, trade facilitation and climate resilience. Dar said the ECO region covers around eight million square kilometres and hosts nearly half a billion people, but its share of global trade remains around 2.2 percent. Minute Mirror reported that intra-regional trade is also limited, at roughly eight percent of the region's total trade.

The deputy prime minister called for reforms within the ECO Secretariat and affiliated institutions so they could respond to changing political and economic conditions. He highlighted climate change, water security and food security as major regional challenges and called for cooperation in disaster management, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy and adaptation.

Dar said improving transport networks, customs procedures and transit systems was essential, and that key corridors should connect Central Asia with Arabian Sea ports. Pakistan, he added, was ready to support the movement of people and goods and to use its geographical position and visa reforms to serve as a regional gateway. According to Minute Mirror, he also urged progress towards a digitally enabled ECO free trade area and building on a roadmap approved by ECO trade ministers in 2025.

Turning to Afghanistan, Dar said lasting regional development required peace and stability. He said Pakistan wanted a peaceful and stable Afghanistan integrated with its neighbours and had engaged with the Taliban authorities and offered trade and transit facilities. He said Pakistan's main expectation was that Afghan territory should not be used against it, and Minute Mirror reported that he called for concrete and verifiable action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army and their affiliates.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting was attended by foreign ministers of ECO member states.