Pakistan will host the 30th meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Council of Ministers in Islamabad on November 15 and 16, bringing together senior representatives from member states to discuss regional connectivity, economic integration and sustainable development.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office 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 countries.
Representatives of the organisation’s secretariat and subsidiary bodies will also participate in the ministerial gathering.
The Council of Ministers meeting will be preceded by consultations among senior officials from member states, who will review the ECO’s ongoing activities and programmes, assess the performance of its subsidiary bodies and finalise the agenda and draft outcome documents for consideration by the ministers.
Pakistan currently holds the ECO chairmanship for 2026–27 and intends to use its tenure to promote closer economic cooperation and stronger regional partnerships.
The Foreign Office said the country’s chairmanship would be guided by the theme “Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO”, reflecting its emphasis on regional integration and collective economic development.
Under this framework, Pakistan aims to strengthen connectivity among member states, deepen economic partnerships and encourage joint initiatives to promote prosperity and sustainable growth.
The Foreign Office said the chairmanship would also provide an opportunity to reinforce the ECO’s position as a platform for regional dialogue, cooperation and economic collaboration.
A major focus of Pakistan’s agenda will be improving regional transport and trade connectivity, with the government seeking to establish the country as an important hub linking markets across the region.
According to the statement, Pakistan intends to facilitate logistics and supply chains, support regional trade initiatives and contribute to shaping a broader agenda for economic cooperation among ECO members.
The government believes these efforts could help unlock the region’s economic potential and ensure that the benefits of closer cooperation translate into practical improvements in people’s lives.
The Foreign Office emphasised that stronger regional partnerships and coordinated development initiatives would be central to achieving the organisation’s objectives during Pakistan’s chairmanship.
Meanwhile, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu arrived in Islamabad to participate in the meeting.
He was received at the airport by officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two-day gathering will provide an opportunity for participating delegations to review existing cooperation mechanisms and discuss measures aimed at strengthening economic ties, improving connectivity and advancing shared development priorities across the ECO region.