ISLAMABAD: The 30th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers will be held in Islamabad today (Sunday) and tomorrow (Monday), the Foreign Office said on Saturday.
The meeting will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and attended by foreign ministers and heads of delegations from ECO member states, along with representatives of the organisation’s secretariat and subsidiary bodies.
The ministerial meeting will be preceded by a gathering of senior officials from ECO member states, who will review the organisation’s activities and programmes, assess the work of its subsidiary bodies and finalise the agenda and draft outcome documents for consideration by the ministers.
‘Reviving regionalism’
Pakistan, which holds the ECO chairmanship for 2026-27, will seek to advance the organisation’s objectives under the theme “Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO”.
Pakistan will focus on strengthening regional connectivity and integration
The FO said Pakistan’s chairmanship would focus on strengthening regional connectivity and integration, deepening partnerships and promoting collective efforts for economic prosperity and sustainable development.
It added that the chairmanship would provide an opportunity to reinforce the ECO’s role as a platform for regional cooperation, dialogue and economic collaboration.
Pakistan also aims to position itself as a regional connectivity hub, facilitate logistics and supply chains, and help shape the agenda for regional trade, the FO said.
These efforts would help unlock the region’s economic potential and translate the benefits of regional cooperation into tangible improvements in the lives of people in ECO member states, it added.
In a post on X, Mr Dar welcomed delegates arriving for the meeting.
“I look forward to productive deliberations as we work together to strengthen regional cooperation and advance our shared priorities. Wishing all delegates a productive and memorable stay in Islamabad,” he said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tahsin Ertugruloglu arrived in Islamabad to attend the meeting. He was received at the airport by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Last month, Mr Dar directed the authorities to ensure smooth coordination and timely preparations for the ECO meeting, underscoring the importance Pakistan attaches to the regional bloc.
Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2026
