Pakistan will host regional countries at a conference next week aimed at reviving its economy despite a surge in violence by Islamist militants, the Foreign Ministry said.
The 13th Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) summit will be held in Islamabad on March 1 and most of the member-states have already confirmed participation, the advisor to the prime minister on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, told a news conference yesterday.
Sartaj Aziz assured that there is no threat to the summit.
He said most of the member-states except Afghanistan have already confirmed their participation.
Sartaj Aziz said the forum will deliberate and decide on ways and means to augment co-operation in the areas of connectivity, trade, energy, tourism, investment, industry, economic growth, productivity, social self-aware and environment.
He said initiatives for development of education and scientific linkages, cultural and people to people contacts within the ECO will also be deliberated upon during the Summit.
Sartaj Aziz said the ECO Summit will focus on regional connectivity.
He said the $46bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would help boost the transit and energy corridors in the ECO region.
The forum would help in deciding ways to increase co-operation in areas such as trade, energy, tourism, economic growth and productivity.
“Connectivity for regional prosperity is the theme of the summit,” Geo Tv quoted Aziz as saying.
The adviser said initiatives for educational, scientific exchange and cultural exchange within the ECO will also be discussed.
“China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an outstanding example of the summit’s theme of connectivity.
It will augment the existing and planned transit and energy corridors in ECO region for greater progress and prosperity for the people of the area,” Aziz said.
The ECO Vision 2025 is expected to be formulated and adopted during the summit.
It is aimed at reviewing the ECO’s state of affairs, in the light of changing global and regional circumstances.
The ECO was established in 1985 by Iran, Turkey and Pakistan. In 1992, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan joined the group.
At least 130 people have been killed in attacks claimed by Islamic State and the Taliban across the country in the past fortnight.
The uptick in attacks has further strained security and intelligence agencies. An annual literary festival in the eastern city of Lahore was reduced from three days to a one-day event yesterday because of security risks, local media reported.
To a question, he hinted that Pak-Afghan border will be reopened in a day or two.
Earlier yesterday, Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal expressed hope that Pakistan could partially open the two countries’ border for Afghan sick, women, elders as well as Afghans who are stranded in Pakistan with valid visas later the day.
Zakhilwal posted a statement on his official Facebook page yesterday and advised Afghan nationals to “avoid travel to Pakistan even if the border is opened.”
Pakistan closed Pak-Afghan border on Feb 16 for “security reasons” as it insists militants who have carried out recent attacks in Pakistan operate from the Afghan side of the border.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria has said that a decision regarding reopening of Pak-Afghan border will be taken in due course of time.
Adviser to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz gestures as he briefs media representatives at the foreign office in Islamabad yesterday, ahead of the 13th Economic Co-operation (ECO) Summit.
