ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been chosen to lead the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers (COM) for the 2026-27 term, according to a statement from the Foreign Office released on Friday. The decision was made during the 29th session of the COM, which was attended virtually by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar.
The Foreign Ministers of ECO member states extended their congratulations to Pakistan on accepting the chairmanship. DPM Dar expressed gratitude for their support and felicitations, and he looked forward to collaborating closely with member nations and welcoming all ECO representatives to Pakistan for the upcoming COM meeting in 2026, the FO stated via X.
During his speech, DPM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to the ECO Vision 2025 and emphasized the organization’s vital role in promoting regional prosperity, economic cooperation, and connectivity. He also assured that Pakistan would actively participate in finalizing the ECO Vision 2026-2035.
DPM Dar highlighted key priorities for Pakistan, including the enhancement of multimodal transport routes, the standardization of customs procedures, and the integration of transport infrastructure to facilitate regional connectivity. He outlined ongoing efforts to implement major projects such as the Islamabad–Tehran–Istanbul Rail Corridor, the Eurasian Multimodal Corridor, and new railway links connecting Central Asia with Pakistan through Afghanistan.
Further, he pointed out Pakistan’s initiatives to boost regional cooperation through transport and digital connectivity, noting that the country’s liberalized visa policy allows easier access for travelers and businesspeople from 126 countries.
He called on ECO member states to intensify collaboration in sustainable transportation, customs harmonization, and climate-resilient infrastructure development. Additionally, DPM Dar emphasized the importance of joint efforts to combat terrorism, which poses a threat to regional economic stability.
Finally, he congratulated Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev for successfully hosting the ECO-COM meeting and extended an invitation to all member states to attend the 30th session, which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan next year.
