Foreign dignitaries arrive for ECO meeting

Foreign dignitaries from Turkiye, Azerbaijan and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have arrived in Islamabad to attend the 30th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers.

The two-day ministerial meeting begins on Sunday, bringing together foreign ministers and senior representatives from member countries to discuss regional cooperation, economic integration and connectivity.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklikaya arrived in the federal capital and was received by officials of Pakistan’s Foreign Office. Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov and SCO Deputy Secretary General Ahmad Saidmurodzoda have also reached Islamabad to participate in the meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tahsin Ertugruloglu arrived in the capital on Saturday.

The meeting will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Foreign ministers and heads of delegations from ECO member states, along with representatives of the organisation’s secretariat and subsidiary bodies, are expected to participate.

Ahead of the ministerial session, senior officials from member countries will review the organisation’s ongoing activities and programmes. They will also assess the performance of its subsidiary bodies and finalise the agenda and draft documents for consideration by the ministers.

Pakistan holds the ECO chairmanship for 2026-27 and aims to strengthen regional cooperation under the theme “Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO”.

During its tenure, Islamabad plans to prioritise regional connectivity, economic integration, stronger partnerships and joint efforts towards sustainable development and prosperity.

Pakistan also intends to enhance its position as a regional connectivity hub by improving logistics and supply chains and promoting trade among member countries.

The initiative is aimed at unlocking the region’s economic potential and ensuring that greater cooperation delivers practical benefits for people across participating countries.

The ECO comprises 10 member states: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Iran, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.