Pakistan hosts 10-nation regional summit

Islamabad hosted the daylong 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) summit to finalise a “Vision 2025” plan to expand trade and prosperity among member nations.

“There has never been a more opportune time to realise our dreams of connectivity for regional prosperity,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was elected new chairman of the organisation. “We can and should achieve even more by pooling together our individual efforts for greater synergy.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are among the heads of state in attendance. Turkey, Iran and Pakistan founded ECO in 1985. Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Omar Zakhilwal, said that peace and stability in the region will play a greater role in achieving mutual economic goals.