• Premier asks ECO member states to rally behind Palestinians.
• Terms Israel’s incessant, lethal bombardments “deplorable act”.
• Issue must be addressed via UNSC and OIC resolutions, he says.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s war on Gaza, particularly the elimination of Palestinian children, likening it to the “pharaohs” who killed children on the advent of Prophet Moses’ birth.

Demanding for Israel’s offensive to be stopped immediately, the premier said: “Unfortunately, the people who claim to be the followers of [Prophet] Moses are following the path of pharaohs.”

PM Kakar’s condemnation came during the 16th Economic Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where he was delivering a speech before participants of member countries.

He insisted all ECO member states immediately rally behind Palestinians, stop the cessation of violence and encourage the humanitarian corridor to help the “unfortunate” and “defenceless” people of Palestine.

Condemning Israel for its atrocities on the residents of Gaza, PM Kakar said: “The incessant and lethal bombardments of Gaza by the Israeli forces is a deplorable act, which calls for international condemnation. This issue needs to be addressed in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions.”

The prime minister urged all the ECO member states to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, support the call for the provision of humanitarian assistance and rally efforts to hold Israel to account.

He also spoke about the plight of Kashmiris residing in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“The Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the resolutions of the United Nations,” the premier stated.

PM Kakar acknowledges Afghanistan’s regional role

He said Pakistan seeks to work closely with the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) member states towards the shared goal towards building a peaceful, prosperous and interconnected Afghanistan.

PM Kakar acknowledged Afghanistan’s critical role in regional connectivity.

“Connectivity projects CASA-1000, Trans-Afghan railway, Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI) and others are not merely economic projects, they are also strategic investments in our shared future,” he said.

Therefore, the premier added, Pakistan looks forward to working with other ECO states for a peaceful, prosperous and interconnected Afghanistan.

Highlighting a major development in the investment landscape of Pakistan, the premier said: “The government has established a Special Investment Facilitation Council that will serve as a single window platform for multi-domain cooperation in five key sections including agriculture, defence production, information technology, energy and mining.”

He said that all state institutions involved in trade and investment are brought together under the SIFC umbrella.

“This body has the mandate to give directions to any government institutions and ensure policy continuation and execution,” Kakar said, addressing the summit attendees.

He emphasised that there are vast opportunities for investment in various sectors in Pakistan

The ECO region, the prime minister said, is blessed with natural resources, geographical contiguity, enterprising people and cultural heritage that is conserved as a basis to expand trade and economic integration in this area.

“Nevertheless, despite our enormous potential and infinite resources, we have a share of only 2% in global trade and 8% in intra-regional trade,” he said.

He maintained that development in the region is possible only through commercial activities in the region and trade corridors between ECO countries will play an important role.

“There is a need for more border and trade corridors in the ECO region,” he said.