promoting regional peace, security and stability.
“Pakistan is a natural SCO partner, ideally located to provide links for regional economic integration within and between SCO member states,” he said, and added that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was in step with SCO’s efforts to create trans-continental overland connectivity resulting in stronger regional economic integration.
“Pakistan is partnering in a number of key regional energy and infrastructure initiatives including Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) and CASA-1000.” He said Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to initiate a bus service that would not only enhance trade but also be an important tool to promote people-to-people contacts among the four countries.
Malik said, “In-line with the government’s vision of shared prosperity through connectivity, Pakistan has undertaken several initiatives which include rebooting of Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA ) among China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Pakistan, which is also being joined by Tajikistan.”
He said the QTTA serves as a channel to regional connectivity and would become even more effective with Pakistan's membership of SCO.
“Pakistan’s strategic aim is to utilise its unique geopolitical position and economic capital to build trade, energy and communications corridors linking South Asia, west Asia, Central Asia and China.” The government of Pakistan, he said was working on domestic reforms that would help promote regional trade and connectivity.
“The initiatives include establishment of the National Single Window to expedite trade clearance, aggressive implementation of Trade Facilitation Agreement and tariff rationalisation to improve our competitiveness and reduce the cost of doing business,” he added.
The Minister expressed support for a regional Free Trade Agreement under SCO to open up partnership opportunities for the whole region. He underscored that a trade-led growth in the region would play a key role in bringing economic prosperity, employment, and sustainable development.