Pakistan to Host 30th ECO Council of Ministers Meeting
Pakistan will host the 30th meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers in Islamabad on November 15 and 16, the Foreign Office said on Saturday.
The meeting will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and attended by foreign ministers and heads of delegations from member states of the Economic Cooperation Organisation, along with representatives of the organisation’s secretariat and subsidiary bodies.
The ministerial meeting will be preceded by a meeting of senior officials from ECO member states, which will review the organisation’s activities and programmes, assess the work of its subsidiary bodies and finalise the agenda and draft outcome documents for the ministers.
What the ECO Council of Ministers will discuss
Pakistan, which holds the ECO chairmanship for 2026-27, will seek to advance the organisation’s objectives under the theme “Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO”, the Foreign Office said.
The chairmanship will focus on strengthening regional connectivity and integration, deepening partnerships and promoting collective efforts for economic prosperity and sustainable development.
It will also provide an opportunity to strengthen the ECO’s role as a platform for regional cooperation, dialogue and economic collaboration, the statement added.
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan also aims to position itself as a regional connectivity hub, facilitate logistics supply chains and help shape the agenda for regional trade. The efforts would help realise the region’s economic potential and turn the benefits of regional cooperation into tangible improvements in the lives of people in member states.
In a post on X, Dar welcomed the delegates arriving for the meeting. “I look forward to productive deliberations as we work together to strengthen regional cooperation and advance our shared priorities. Wishing all delegates a productive and memorable stay in Islamabad,” he said.
Who is coming to Islamabad
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tahsin Ertugruloglu arrived in Islamabad to take part in the meeting. He was received at the airport by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Last month Dar directed the relevant authorities to ensure flawless coordination and timely preparations for the meeting, underlining the importance Pakistan attaches to the regional bloc.
The gathering follows the 17th ECO Summit, held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, on July 3 and 4, 2025, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif leading Pakistan’s delegation. That summit brought together heads of state and government to discuss regional cooperation and economic integration. Pakistan called there for stronger intra-regional trade, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and sustainable development, while reaffirming its commitment to the ECO Vision 2025.
Pakistan’s year as ECO chair
The ECO has 10 members: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The grouping links Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia, and its members sit on some of the world’s busiest energy and trade corridors.
For Pakistan, the chairmanship is a chance to push the connectivity agenda it has already been pursuing. Islamabad has been courting investment in its ports and minerals, including the maritime investment offered by the world’s largest shipping line and the 13 mineral agreements signed this year. Regional trade routes through Pakistan would give those deals somewhere to go.
The meeting also fits a wider pattern of regional diplomacy. Turkiye and Qatar have signed a new defence agreement, and Pakistan has been building economic partnerships abroad, including the economic partnership agreed with the United Kingdom. The ECO meeting brings that work home to Islamabad.
Frequently asked questions
When is the ECO Council of Ministers meeting?
The 30th meeting will be held in Islamabad on November 15 and 16.
Who will chair the meeting?
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will chair the meeting.
What is the theme of Pakistan’s chairmanship?
The theme is “Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO”, with a focus on regional connectivity, integration and sustainable development.
Which countries are members of the ECO?
The ECO has 10 members: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
What happens before the ministers meet?
Senior officials from member states meet first to review the organisation’s work and finalise the agenda and draft outcome documents.
