Islamabad: In a high-level meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Communications, and Asad Majid Khan, the Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), examined pivotal issues surrounding economic and trade development among ten South Asian countries.

The discussions primarily centered on the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) Road Transport Corridor, as well as Pakistan’s broader transport infrastructure, including both rail and road networks and the Euro-Asian Transport Link. The Secretary-General extended an invitation to the Federal Minister to participate in the upcoming ECO summit, scheduled for June in Tehran.

Asad Majid Khan emphasized the potential for collaboration among the ten member countries, which include Central Asian states, Turkiye, and Pakistan. He highlighted the benefits of working together on joint initiatives across multiple sectors.

Minister Abdul Aleem Khan welcomed the Secretary-General and underscored Pakistan’s capacity to contribute significantly in terms of human resources and workforce. He noted that enhanced cooperation could be achieved in sectors such as communications, energy, infrastructure, and mining.

Efforts to foster innovation in Pakistan’s communications sector through digitalization were also discussed. Active trade routes connecting Pakistan to Iran, Afghanistan, China, and further to Azerbaijan and other Central Asian states were highlighted as vital links in the region.

The Federal Minister congratulated Asad Majid Khan on his appointment as the 14th Secretary-General of ECO and assured him of Pakistan’s commitment to a proactive role within the organization. It was agreed that detailed preparatory work on trade matters between Pakistan, Iran, and other countries would be completed ahead of the June summit to facilitate swift progress.