Tashkent (Web Desk/Agencies): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday reiteriated the need to hold Israel accountable for its atrocities in the besieged Gaza enclave.
Addressing the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the premier said that the 'incessant and lethal' Israeli bombardment on Gaza was a deplorable act and called for international condemnation.
PM Kakar said that said the situation needed to be addressed as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions and urged the ECO countries to push for a ceasefire and support the call for the provision of humanitarian aid, besides rallying efforts to hold Israel to account.
"With the elimination of children, I recall in the history when Pharoa, on the advent of the Moses’ birth killed children. And now, unfortunately, the people who claim to be the followers of Moses, are following the footpath of Pharoa," the PM remarked.
Reiterating Pakistan’s strong condemnation, PM Kakar called for rallying behind and encouraging to have a humanitarian corridor to help out the suffering Palestinian people.
He also apprised the regional leaders of the unabated Indian atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and emphasised ECO countries to support Kashmiris in achieving their right of self-determination.
PM Kakar also touched upon the issues of intolerance, violence and xenophobia and called upon the ECO members and international community to work for building legal deterrence against Islamophobia while maintaining mutual respect, and harmony and co-existence.
We reiterate in the strongest terms about the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on humanitarian grounds. Pakistan unequivocally supports the Palestinians in their just liberation struggle and condemns the oppression and genocidal impulse of the government of Israel. pic.twitter.com/9KC40wDvIW
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) November 9, 2023
Speaking about the ECO summit, PM Kakar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to ECO Vision 2025, called for collective efforts and accelerated reforms to achieve the Organisation’s objectives and region’s trade potential for bringing “colossal” economic and peace dividends.
“Let us make ECO an organisation not just of words, but actions, not just commitments but implementation. It is crucial for us to work collectively and diligently to realise the goals and objectives of the Organisation… Our region, if well connected, can bring colossal economic and peace dividends for our people,” he said.
He said being blessed with natural resources, geographical linkages and cultural heritage, ECO region had been unable to exploit its true trade potential as it had just two percent share in global trade and eight percent in intraregional trade.
The premier said that in 2022, the trade within the ECO region was recorded at $39 billion against $577 billion with the world and the intraregion exports also stood at $46 billion.
He said the ECO Vision 2025, which was adopted by the 13th ECO summit in Islamabad had called for increasing regional trade, strengthening connectivity, operationalising major transport corridors and seeking energy security.
Calling for deliberations to expand share in the global and intra-region trade, he emphasised reducing barriers, developing infrastructure, and formulating environment-friendly and sustainable policies besides reducing poverty.
PM Kakar supported the ECO’s corridor-based approach like Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI), Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul” (ITI), Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran (KTI) and others and said the integrated transport projects would help promote trade and connectivity.
Mentioning the revival of the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad rail project, the premier said Pakistan was upgrading its rail infrastructure to speed up the flow of goods. He also called for opening more border points within the ECO region to enhance connectivity and trade.
The premier said that the connectivity projects would also facilitate the private sector and widen the scope of business and investment.
PM Kakar told the regional leaders that Pakistan had established a one-window platform of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) bringing together all trade-related organisations under one umbrella.
"The government has identified and focused on five areas of investment including agriculture, defence production, IT, energy and mining," he added.
Highlighting the significance of Afghanistan in regional connectivity and execution of regional projects like CASA-1000, Trans Afghan Railway and TAPI, PM Kakar said that Pakistan was working closely with the ECO countries to achieve the shared goal of peaceful and interconnected Afghanistan.
