LAHORE: Pakistan’s geo-strategic location ideal for connecting Central Asian countries via sea routes
for better and effective regional economic integration besides boosting trilateral trade. Former president of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik stated this while talking to a delegation of industrialists led by Muslim Khan Buneri here Tuesday.
Malik said that Central Asia states are landlocked and Pakistan can provide a hassle-free shorter sea access to these countries. He said Pakistan could also comfortably facilitate Shanghai Cooperation Orgnisation (SCO) member countries in providing regional connectivity which would promote trade among member countries and even beyond.
He said transport corridors and logistics infrastructure could benefit all member states leading to a win-win situation. He said the SCO is multi-dimensional organisation in terms of its scope and functioning and Pakistan can benefit from it.
He said the SCO comprising 21 members with a mandate of enhancing economic cooperation
could usher in an era of prosperity, progress and development in every sphere of life in the region.
Malik stressed the need for harnessing the potential of the SCO under the leadership of China for sustained regional economic growth. He said Pakistan as a trans-shipment and trade hub for the SCO countries could play a constructive role to further strengthening the organisation. He said private sector of Pakistan was always ready to move forward the SCO’s development agenda aimed at accelerating the economic activities in the region, he concluded.