ECO must exploit untapped trade potential: PM Kakar

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday urged Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) countries to enhance their regional share in international trade. “Despite being blessed with natural resources, geographical linkages and cultural heritage, ECO region has been unable to exploit its true trade potential as it had just two per cent share in global trade and 8pc in intra-regional trade,” the prime minister said while addressing the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The prime minister’s address encompassed an array of issues, including the ECO’s existing trade and true potential, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Islamophobia as well as the ECO projects of regional connectivity. Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to ECO Vision 2025, Mr Kakar called for collective efforts and accelerated reforms to achieve the organisation’s objectives and region’s trade potential for bringing “colossal” economic and peace dividends. “Let us make ECO an organisation not just of words, but actions, not just commitments but implementation,” he added.