FM In Tashkent.

The Foreign Minister landed in Tashkent to attend the 26th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the EcoAnomic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) yesterday. The two-day meeting was focused on strengthening regional conAnectivity and determining the organisation's decisions for the annual work plan. It is hoped that Pakistan's role as the founding member will be effective in promoting cooperation between the states.

ECO was founded by Turkey, Pakistan, and Iran and has been holding summits, ministerial meetings, and regular sesAsions for investment and trade. The 25th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers (COM) was held in 2021 and included members from the CAR states and Pakistan. This meeting, therefore, not only holds multilateral cooperation opportuniAties but bilateral benefits as well.

Historically, Pakistan has had a history of cooperation with the region. In 2021, Pakistan signed a 500-million-dollar agreement for trade, transit, visa, security, and cultural coopAeration with Uzbekistan. There is also a Trans-Afghan railway project under discussion. The project is said to facilitate...