Islamabad (Web Desk): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday arrived in Islamabad after completing his two-day official visit to Uzbekistan.
During his visit, the prime minister attended the 16th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in Tashkent and held bilateral meetings with the leadership of Uzbekistan and other participating leaders.
In his wide-ranging address at the ECO Summit, the prime minister raised the issue of Gaza humanitarian crisis twice and reiterated condemnation of killing of children and women, and targeting of the hospitals.
“With the elimination of children, I recall in the history when Pharaoh, 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 path of Pharaoh,” he remarked.
He told the ECO leaders that the incessant and lethal Israeli bombardment on Gaza was a deplorable act calling for international condemnation.
The prime minister said the situation needed to be addressed as per the OIC and UNSC resolutions.
He urged the member countries to push for a ceasefire and support the call for the provision of humanitarian aid, besides rallying efforts to hold Israel to account.
The premier urged the participating countries and the international community to rally behind to have a humanitarian corridor so that the unfortunate and defenseless people of Palestine could be helped out.
PM Kakar 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.
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.
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.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Caretaker Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz, Caretaker Communications Minister Shahid Ashraf Tarar accompanied the prime minister in the summit held at the Tashkent Convention Center.