Foreign ministers and heads of delegations from ten member states gathered on Saturday for the 30th edition of the Economic Cooperation Organization Council of Ministers Meeting. Top Pakistani diplomat Ishaq Dar is chairing the discussions.
Representatives of the ECO Secretariat and its subsidiary bodies are also participating in the talks. Pakistan has assumed the chair of the organisation for the 2026 to 2027 term.
Islamabad intends to advance the objectives of the bloc under the official theme Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO. A foreign ministry statement outlined the core priorities of this new leadership period.
Pakistan will focus on strengthening regional connectivity, deepening economic integration, and promoting collaborative partnerships.
The ministry stated that the chairmanship provides an opportunity to reinvigorate the organisation. It hopes to restore the bloc as an effective platform for regional cooperation, dialogue, and economic collaboration.
These initiatives are designed to unlock the considerable economic potential of the area, translating cooperation into real improvements in the daily lives of citizens within the member states.
The economic bloc was originally founded in 1985 by Türkiye, Iran, and Pakistan. The organisation expanded significantly in 1992 by admitting seven new countries.
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan joined the founding trio, bringing the total membership to ten nations. Together, the nominal gross domestic product of these member states reaches approximately three trillion dollars.
Several high-ranking officials have travelled to Islamabad to join the sessions. Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklikaya is leading the delegation from Türkiye.
Tahsin Ertugruloglu, foreign minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, also arrived in the capital on Saturday to attend the gathering.
