Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has expressed deep concern over the prevailing security situation in the region and the Middle East, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.
Ishaq Dar underscored the need for Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Member States to harness their collective potential to promote peace, resilience, and shared prosperity for the region’s nearly half a billion people.
Dar chaired the 27th Informal Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release issued in Islamabad on Saturday.
Pakistan is currently chairing the ECO Council of Ministers for 2026–2027 under the theme “Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO”.
The meeting was attended by foreign ministers and senior representatives of ECO Member States, including Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, Foreign Minister of Iran Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Zheenbek Kulubaev, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkiye Berris Ekinci, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN Vepa Hajiyev, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the UN Laziz Karaev, and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Beibut Kulatayev. Secretary General of ECO Dr. Asad Majeed Khan also briefed the Council.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude to ECO Member States for reposing confidence in Pakistan and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the Organization’s objectives and strengthening regional cooperation.
In his statement, the DPM/FM outlined Pakistan’s priorities for the ECO Chairmanship, including deepening intra-regional trade and economic integration; strengthening connectivity and transit corridors linking Central Asia with the Arabian Sea; advancing a digitally enabled ECO Free Trade Area; and enhancing regional cooperation on climate resilience.
The participating ministers and heads of delegation exchanged views on regional and global developments and expressed support for enhanced regional cooperation.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to build momentum towards the 30th ECO Council of Ministers meeting, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November 2026.
“Pakistan looks forward to working closely with all ECO Member States to translate the Organization’s shared vision into tangible outcomes and further strengthen regional economic cooperation, connectivity, and integration,” it was further added.
Dar meets ECO chief
Ishaq Dar also met with Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Secretary-General Dr Asad Majeed Khan on the sidelines of the Informal Meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers in New York.
The DPM/FM appreciated the Secretary-General’s efforts in advancing ECO’s agenda and emphasized the importance of close coordination during Pakistan’s Chairmanship to strengthen regional economic cooperation, connectivity, and integration.
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