ECO and Pakistan

• The ECO, established since 1985 has not been able to meet any of its goals.
• The reasons for this stand the relations between Iran and Pakistan getting estranged
under the reign of Zia. Following this are the militant activities that were being carried
out in Central Asia.
• In 1992, when seven new members joined ECO, which gave Pakistan motive to work
harder in the face of religious commonality. However, little work was done in any
aspect.
• Pakistan needs to improve its relations with its neighbors and improve cross-border
communication.
• Pakistan needs to play a central role in promoting peace and good relations on either
side of the Durand Line.
• At the 5th ECO Summit Meeting held in Almaty in May 1998, Pakistan proposed that
ECO should launch a multi-dimensional economic development program on the model
of Pakistan 2010 program. However, not much progress is seen.
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• According to the ECO Vision 2015, Pakistan was supposed to be the
country to push for the early implementation of the Transit Transport
Framework Agreement (TTFA) and the Agreement on Promotion and
Protection of Investment (APPI). This would facilitate the removal of
existing barriers on trade and investment within the ECO region and give
necessary impetus to the common goal of economic prosperity.
• Unfortunately this has not been achieved due to lack of direction and lack
of comprehension by senior officials who have vast potential.
• Pakistan must pay greater attention to ECO than it has done over the past
few years to reap fully the economic and commercial benefits of regional
cooperation that this organization offers.
• ECOSF (Eco Science Foundation in Islamabad)- a step toward better
relations with its members. It is a platform to discuss and exchange
scientific and technological knowledge, issue like global warming, climate
change, water conservation, harvesting, biodiversity etc.

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 OIC and Pakistan
• The OIC is the largest Muslim forum of the world with fifty-six
member states.
• Pakistan has had the honor of being one of the earliest 51 member
states at the time of the inaugural session in Rabat 1969.
• The second Conference was held in 1974 in Lahore, which was a
matter of pride as well as recognition for Pakistan.
• Pakistan also hosted the Second Conference of the OIC Foreign
Ministers (ICFM) held in Karachi from 26th to 28 December
1970, Eleventh ICFM in Islamabad from 17th to 22nd May 1980
and the Twenty-first ICFM held in Karachi on 25th to 29th April
1993. The Special Sessions of the OIC Foreign Ministers
Conference in 1980 and in 1994 were also held in Pakistan.

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• Mr. Sharif-ud-Din Pirzada, a noted Lawyer and a former Foreign
Minister of Pakistan served as the Secretary General of the OIC
from 1984 to 1988.
• Pakistan has used the platform of the OIC to speak about the
Muslim community that is oppressed or troubled in any region of
the world.
• The OIC gives its support on the Kashmir issue and has passed
several resolutions giving power and authority to the people of
Kashmir to choose their own political future.
• The efforts by Pakistan have received due acknowledgment in the
OIC signified by its membership of all key OIC's Specialized
Committees and Contact Groups on critical issues of the Islamic
world - Palestine, Afghanistan, Jammu & Kashmir, Bosnia,
Kosovo and Sahel.
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 UN and PAK
• Pakistan has been a member of UN since 1947, even though it had to face
opposition upon this decision because of the Durand Line issue.
• The role of Pakistan in the UN is mostly related to the UN Peacekeeping Mission.
Over the last 66 years, Pakistan has put this vision into practice by making
significant contributions to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, in
particular the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security, as
a member of the Security Council and through its contribution to UN
Peacekeeping.
• Pakistan is currently an elected member to the following UN bodies: Human
Rights Council (2013-15); Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
(2012-17); Commission for Social Development (2013-2017); Commission on
the Status of Women (2013-2017); Commission on Crime Prevention and
Criminal Justice (2013-2015); UNICEF Executive Board (2013-2015);
UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board (2013-2015); and United Nations Committee on
Contributions (2013-16). 5
• Pakistan seeks resolution of the Kashmir dispute on the basis of
Resolutions adopted by the Security Council. The principled
position on the dispute remains a bed-rock of Pak’s foreign policy.
Pakistan will continue to support the right of self-determination of
the people of Jammu & Kashmir and to choose their destiny in
accordance with UNSC resolutions.
• As the largest troop contributing country to the UN peacekeeping
operations, Pakistan's commitment to international peace and
security is well established. It deployed its first ever contingent in
Congo in 1960. Pakistan has since participated in 41 peacekeeping
missions in 23 countries, with over 150,000 peacekeepers, some
deployed in most difficult and trying conditions. A total of 137
Pakistani peacekeepers have embraced martyrdom. Currently,
Pakistan is one of the largest troop contributors, with 8,230
peacekeepers, constituting over 9% of UN's total deployment.
Pakistan is also the sixth largest police contributor.
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• Pakistan is actively working with the global community in the campaign
against international terrorism. It has extended maximum cooperation
and support to the international community to fight this scourge. No
country in the world has suffered as much as Pakistan because of this
menace. The entire Pakistani nation is determined to eliminate terrorism
in all its forms and manifestations.
• Pakistan has been a leading voice for the reform of the Security Council to
make it more democratic, inclusive and accountable through reform of its
membership and improvement in its working methods.
• During its Presidency of the Security Council in January 2013, Pak
convened two special thematic debates: (i) comprehensive approach to
counter-terrorism; and (ii) UN Peacekeeping: a multidimensional
approach.
• Pakistan continues to support the need for dialogue, diplomacy and
international cooperation to address existing and emerging international
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challenges.
 SAARC and Pakistan
• Saarc is the eco-political organization comprising of 8 South-Asian
member countries, formed on December 8, 1985 for establishing
cooperation and friendly relation between developing countries in
the region. It forms the largest regional organization in the world.
• Saarc aims to and follows development and progress amongst the
members in areas of agriculture, science and biotechnology, tourism,
trade and finance, communication, media and access as well as
people-to-people contacts.
• The main focus in Saarc was the escalation of economic growth in
the region.
• - SAFTA- South Asian Free Trade Area, Custom duties reduced to
20%
- SAPTA- Saarc Preferential Trading Arrangement.
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• The Kashmir issue has been a hurdle in promoting peace in the Indo-Pak region
as well as a barrier in harmonious and prosperous decision making in the
organization. As long as this issue isn’t settles, Saarc cannot emerge a successful
organization neither can it do anything productive.
• For Pakistan, Saarc has served as the platform to gain peaceful relations with its
neighbor country, India. The 2002 Saarc Summit was a means of breaking the
tension between the two countries, tactfully used by President Pervez Musharraf.
• Pakistan has suggested that women participate actively in Saarc’s activities.
• Pakistan arranged for a ministerial level meeting on International Economic
Issues at Islamabad, May 1986.
• Pakistan has doubled its share from 19100 tons in South Asian Food Security
resources.
• Pakistan gives its highest priority to drug abuse eradication from the region
through regional cooperation.
• Pakistan is the second largest contributor toward all activities related to Saarc as
well as budget maintenance of the Saarc secretariat. 9
 Commonwealth and Pakistan
• The total members of the CW are 54 in number including the United
Kingdom. The member states of the CW are not bound to stay joined in the
organization; they can withdraw or join it on their own will. Almost all
members of this organization were once the colonies of Britain.
• Pakistan is also a member of the Commonwealth. India and Pakistan both
became members of the organization however, there were ideas thrown
forward that Pakistan should decline from it because it had rejected Lord
Mountbatten as the Governor-General whereas India had accepted heartily.
Thus Pakistan would not be as much favored as India would have.
• Another view sprung that Pakistan should not withdraw from it because this
organization could serve as a platform to raise and solve many issues.
• However, the issue of Kashmir is a proof that the organization has failed to
solve an issue that is the cause of much tense relations and bloodshed between
the two neighboring countries. 10
• Not much has been gained or contributed from the organization.
Pakistan has had ups and down with its relations with the CW.
Under President Musharraf’s rule, Pakistan was excluded from the
organization because of the Emergency implemented in the country
and after it was restored to democratic rule, the CW gave Pakistan
her membership.
• Pakistan hopes to improve its security and economic conditions with
assistance from the other member states. It can use this platform to
seek guidance and help.
• It can also be a platform to improve trade and people-to-people
contacts.

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