Baku: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says clean energy corridors and eco-tourism initiatives can further drive inclusive, sustainable growth, creating green jobs and supporting livelihoods and vulnerable regions. Addressing the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization summit in Azerbaijan on Friday, he said promotion of trade and investment holds the key for strengthening regional connectivity and commencement of ECO transport corridors.
According to Radio Pakistan, these corridors will be aimed at ensuring energy security, promoting intraregional tourism, and economic growth and productivity. These elements were envisaged and agreed upon as the ECO Vision 2025 during the 13th ECO Summit at Islamabad in March 2017. In this regard, the ECO Trade Agreement was visualized as a landmark intraregional trade agreement. However, despite the passage of a considerable period, it is yet to be implemented.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan supports Uzbekistan’s proposal for strategic objective cooperation 2035 as a step in the right direction. He urged the ECO member states to enhance solidarity and cooperation, accept global challenges, and channel their collective energies towards a future that guarantees their people a life of peace, progress, and prosperity.
Shehbaz Sharif said in view of the proud legacy of the ancient and well-established Silk Route, which nurtured rich and industrious civilizations, the great ECO region must build on this historic synergy to shape a better future. He thanked all the member states for the support in designating Lahore a confluence of history, culture, and cuisine as an ECO Tourism capital for the year 2027. He assured that Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, will enthrall all those who will visit the country. He extended a very warm invitation to all the member states.
Talking about the unprovoked and reckless Indian hostility directed towards Pakistan, he appreciated the support and solidarity extended to Pakistan by the brotherly ECO member states in the aftermath of India’s aggression, earlier this year.
The Prime Minister said while the threat of natural climate-induced changes remains formidable, Pakistan is now witnessing a new and alarming trend with India’s weaponization of water. He said India’s illegal attempt to defy the World Bank-negotiated Indus Water Treaty, as well as its blatant disregard of the recent ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, are completely unacceptable.
He said waters of the Indus are the lifeline for Pakistan’s 240 million people. Under no circumstances can India be permitted to pursue this dangerous path that will tantamount to an act of aggression against the people of Pakistan.
Shehbaz Sharif further said that Pakistan stands firmly against those who perpetrate barbaric acts against innocent people anywhere in the world, whether in Gaza, IIOJK, or Iran.