ECO secretary general calls on PM

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has highlighted expanded role of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in various spheres as Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has reminded that huge potential between the ECO member states for trade enhancement, regional connectivity, tourism promotion and cementing people to people contacts exist and it should be utilised for the sake of the people of the member countries.

Talking to the ECO Secretary General Ambassador Halil Ibrahim Akca at the Prime Minister Office (PMO) Wednesday he said that ECO could play a critical role towards advancing these goals and bringing the people further closer to each other.

The secretary general called on the premier as he was here to attend the meeting of the attorney generals of the organisation. Welcoming ECO secretary general and his delegation to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that Pakistan extends full support to the organisation in promoting bilateral as well as multilateral cooperation among the ECO member countries. He reiterated Pakistan’s continued commitment to play an active role for regional integration and strengthening multi-faceted cooperation through the ECO platform.

Abbasi observed that there existed huge potential between the ECO member states for trade enhancement, regional connectivity, tourism promotion and cementing people to people contacts. He said that ECO could play a critical role towards advancing these goals and bringing the people further closer to each other.

The ECO Secretary General thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and said that ECO Secretariat was actively working on putting in place a framework for promoting trade, enhancing regional connectivity through greater rail and road links and tourism promotion besides other areas of mutual benefit. Acknowledging Pakistan’s active role in advancing ECO goals, ECO secretary general appreciated Pakistan’s contributions towards making the ECO a vibrant body for strengthening multi-faceted cooperation between the ECO member countries.

Ambassador Halil Ibrahim Akca expressed the hope that the two-day 3rd Economic Cooperation Organisation attorneys/prosecutors general conference being held in Islamabad would be instrumental in putting in place an effective mechanism of cooperation among the member countries to combat serious crimes including drug trafficking, human smuggling, cyber crimes and other serious offences.