Key Takeaways
- Ishaq Dar expressed deep concern over regional and Middle East security.
- Pakistan committed to peaceful resolution of disputes through international law.
- ECO member states urged to enhance economic integration and climate resilience.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has raised concerns over the security situation in the region and the Middle East during a meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers in New York.
In his address, Dar emphasized Pakistan's commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful and negotiated means, adhering to international law.
He highlighted Pakistan's engagement with 'brotherly countries and partners' to achieve peaceful outcomes, noting that these efforts have yielded tangible progress.
Dar stressed the importance of consolidating and preserving these achievements, calling for a stronger political commitment and institutional reforms within the ECO.
The deputy prime minister outlined Pakistan's role as the chair of the ECO Council of Ministers for 2026-27, focusing on trade and economic integration, connectivity and transit, trade facilitation, and climate resilience.
He noted that despite the ECO region covering eight million square kilometres and being home to nearly half a billion people, it accounts for only 2.2 per cent of global trade, with intra-regional trade at approximately 8 per cent of total regional trade.
Dar called for the experience of successful regional organisations to be used to deepen economic integration, emphasizing the need for stronger cooperation on disaster risk management and climate resilience.
On connectivity and transit, he advocated for the strengthening of transport networks, harmonization of customs procedures, and the operationalization of key corridors linking Central Asia with ports on the Arabian Sea.
He highlighted Pakistan's readiness to serve as a gateway for the region, leveraging its strategic location and liberalized visa regime to facilitate the movement of people and goods.
Dar also addressed climate change, warning of its serious threat to water security, agriculture, and livelihoods in the region, and called for stronger cooperation in this area.
