Ulaanbaatar: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has called for the development of the CAREC Institute into a regional knowledge clearing house that can convert the experiences of member countries into practical solutions for shared economic and development challenges.
According to Press Information Department, during his address at the Governing Council meeting of the CAREC Institute in Ulaanbaatar, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the need for the next phase of regional cooperation to focus on sharing knowledge and expertise across borders. This comes after 25 years of building infrastructure and trade corridors. He proposed the creation of a living CAREC knowledge platform and expert directory to bring together regional data, policy tools, and project evaluations, allowing policymakers to identify and adapt successful approaches.
Ahsan Iqbal also suggested establishing a CAREC peer exchange facility to connect officials facing similar challenges in areas such as trade facilitation, digital customs, and renewable energy. He stated that the institute’s work should be demand-driven and closely linked to policy decisions for practical impact.
The Minister called for enhanced regional cooperation on border management, digital trade systems, and climate-risk information, emphasizing that common challenges require coordinated regional responses. As Pakistan prepares to assume the CAREC Chairmanship in 2027, he stated that knowledge exchange will be central to Pakistan’s agenda, with plans to work with CAREC member countries and the Asian Development Bank on various initiatives.
He offered Pakistan’s experience with the Pakistan Single Window as a model for regional peer exchange and encouraged Pakistani universities and research institutions to join the CAREC regional knowledge network.
Ahsan Iqbal concluded by stating that the CAREC Institute should evolve into a regional hub that gathers, tests, and shares knowledge, aiding member countries in translating evidence into policy and regional action.