Pakistan and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO): With Reference to the Political Economy

Abstract

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was established in 1985 by the combined efforts of Iran, Pakistan, and turkey. It is an intergovernmental regional organization whose sole idea was to promote economic, cultural and technical cooperation. Pakistan along with Turkey and Iran is one of the three founding members of the ECO. Currently ECO has 10 members (Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan). Due to geostrategic position and rich in energy resources, ECO could serve as an engine of world economic growth in future. The purpose of this analytical study is to explanatively evaluate the various dimensional cooperation and integration arrangements that took place in the ECO region. The work narrates the objectives, goals and interests of Pakistan in the region and at the same time analyses various economic and geo-strategic factors that have shaped Pakistan’s policy towards ECO since 1991.The research problem behind this study is to identify the role of Pakistan in major socioeconomic achievements of ECO that affect the process of economic integration in the region.