Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Punjab upgrading tourist destinations, says Maryam Nawaz  

Punjab

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has said that the government is upgrading tourist destinations all over the province and fully prepared to host tourists. A 25 -member delegation of the Economic Corporation Organization(ECO) met with the Chief Minister Punjab. The delegation included permanent delegates from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan and … Read more

FM Jalil Jilani stresses upon ECO intra-regional trade growth

USAID Administrator FM Jilani discuss bilateral ties, Gaza situation
  • In a statement at  27th ECO Council of Ministers meeting.
  • He said ECO intra-regional trade was less than 8 percent.
  • FM said Pakistan attached great importance to ECO.

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani stressed upon member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to change the dynamic of their intra-regional trade and make determined efforts to support regional trade integration.

In a statement at the 27th ECO Council of Ministers meeting held at Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, he said that ECO intra-regional trade was less than 8 percent of the region’s aggregate trade and was in stark contrast to other regional groupings such as the European Union where intra-regional trade stood above 70 percent.

The ECO region, he further said, comprising 8 million square kilometers and half a billion people, representing 15% of the world population, had a share of only about 2% in the global trade.

He recalled the “ECO Vision 2025″, adopted during the 13thECO Summit in Islamabad which aptly provided them a roadmap. “To seize the moment, we need to make concerted efforts to meet intended targets and anticipated goals, as enunciated in the ECO Vision 2025 and set a realistic time frame for their completion to reap tangible benefits,” the foreign minister said. He said the ECO Trade Agreement (ECOTA) was a landmark preferential trade arrangement aiming to lower tariffs in the region over an agreed time-frame.

In the long-term, the minister said, it comprised the single, most comprehensive ECO initiative to broaden intra-regional trade and socio-economic prosperity of their future generations. “Its early implementation would foster transit and trade activity through enhanced connectivity within the ECO framework,” he said and urged all member states to regard the early operationalization of ECOTA as a priority in a spirit of cooperation and accommodation so that their region might benefit from the true potential of enhanced economic interaction and trade linkages,” foreign minister as saying.

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Jalil Jilani to attend ECO Council of Ministers meeting in Azerbaijan

Jilani
  • ECO to be held from October 9-10 in Susha, Azerbaijan.
  • Foreign Minister will address Council of Ministers (COM).
  • Council of Ministers approves annual work plan of Organization.

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will undertake an official visit to Azerbaijan to attend the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to be held from October 9-10 2023 in Susha, Azerbaijan.

During his visit, the foreign minister will address the Council of Ministers (COM) and hold bilateral meetings with participating ministers of member states and other dignitaries on the sidelines of the event.

As the policy-making forum of the ECO, the Council of Ministers approves the decisions and annual work plan of the Organization.

At the 27th COM, the member states will discuss the promotion of sustainable economic development of the ECO region through trade and economic cooperation and mutual assistance in social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.

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Turkey-Iran-Pakistan cargo train can complete journey in 14 days

Turkey-Iran-Pakistan cargo train

A cargo train service between Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran relaunched yesterday following a 10-year hiatus can complete the journey between the three countries in about 14 days, much faster and less costly than the alternate sea route. Read more: Pakistan, Iran, Turkey agree on restoration of trilateral rail link The Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) cargo train was … Read more

FPCCI concerned over ECO’s minimal intraregional trade share

KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has expressed his dissatisfaction over the fact that the 10-country alliance of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has an intraregional trade share of only 8 per cent, whereas, the border and land-based trade accounts for more than 70 per cent among the geographically contiguous … Read more

President Alvi calls for unlocking ECO states potential for rapid economic growth

President Dr Arif Alvi

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that despite having all elements for economic growth, the ECO region is among the least integrated regions in terms of trade and investment, which necessitated unlocking of potential for an impetus to growth and development. Addressing the 15th Summit of the Heads of State of the Economic … Read more

President Alvi calls for enhancing trade ties among regional countries

President Dr Arif Alvi

ASHGABAT: President Dr Arif Alvi held a meeting with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation. They concurred to further strengthen the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to achieve its objectives. The two leaders underlined the need for collective efforts of the region, particularly of the Islamic countries to … Read more

President Alvi reaffirms support to Trans-Afghan Railway project

President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi held a bilateral meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for the Trans-Afghan Railway project and assured all possible cooperation for its early realisation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 15th ECO Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Ashgabat. The talks … Read more

The government plans to sell 20% of its stake in PAKRI through the PSX

PAKRI

The Pakistani government wants to sell 60,000,000 (20 percent) shares of Pakistan Reinsurance Company Limited (PAKRI or “the Company”) via a Secondary Public Offering using the 100 percent Book Building Method through the Privatization Commission.

The shares will be offered through 100% Book Building, according to the draft prospectus. 75 percent of the Offer size (45 million shares) will be distributed to successful bidders, while 25% of the overall transaction (15 million shares) will be released to the general public.

Unsubscribed shares from the general public part will be distributed pro-rata to succeeding bidders.

Because PAKRI is a publicly-traded company, the Offer’s Floor Price will be revealed shortly after Book Building begins.

The Floor Price will be announced on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Habib Bank Limited, and Next Capital Limited websites after approval by the Privatization Commission Board and the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCOP).

PAKRI is Pakistan’s only reinsurance firm, having been established as a public limited corporation in 2000. In order to promote the local insurance business, it took over all of the assets and liabilities of the former Pakistan Insurance Corporation (PIC), which was established under the PIC Act, 1952. It is a public sector firm that operates as an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Commerce of the Pakistani government, with the primary goal of developing the insurance and reinsurance industry in the country.

In view of the treaty and facultative business, it acts as the national reinsurer, providing reinsurance protection to the local insurance industry.

PAKRI improves the country’s foreign exchange retention capacity by providing reinsurance services locally. In the sphere of reinsurance, it also collaborates and participates with its foreign counterparts.

This is being done under the framework of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), with the goal of minimizing foreign exchange outflows and raising the level of insurance and reinsurance services in the region. PAKRI is a founding member of the Federation of Afro-Asian Insurers and Reins.

Through the Ministry of Commerce, the Pakistani government owns around 45 percent of the Company’s shares.

The retail portion of this Offer does not require guaranteeing because it is being made through 100% book building with a 25% allocation to retail investors.

If the Offer remains unsubscribed, the unsubscribed shares will be distributed pro-rata to the successful bidders. The successful bidders have previously agreed to subscribe on a pro-rata basis to any unsubscribed shares.

The growth of the non-life insurance market, which is primarily driven by economic growth, is PAKRI’s primary revenue generator. As commercial activity grows, so does the demand for insurance, which leads to increased demand for the reinsurance company.

PAKRI’s primary revenue generator is the growth of the non-life insurance market, which is predominantly driven by economic growth. As the business expands, so does the demand for insurance, resulting in greater demand for the reinsurance company.

As businesses succeed, the demand for insurance will grow, ultimately increasing the demand for reinsurance. Being the only domestic reinsurance company, PAKRI is well-positioned to capture any anticipated growth in the insurance industry.

PAKRI’s gross premium has risen to Rs. 17-18 billion in recent years, up from Rs. 8-10 billion in 2014-18. This massive increase can mostly be attributed to new power projects that were reinsured over the period.

More projects under the CPEC program are likely to be constructed, providing the Company with a potential revenue stream. In addition, in 2018, the Company launched its Retakaful business, insuring Rs. 424.8 million in 2019 and Rs. 603 million in 2020.

There are three general takaful companies with 22 window takaful activities, according to the Insurance Association of Pakistan (IAP) Yearbook 2019-20. PAKRI has yet to capture the full market, which will boost the retakaful window’s contribution.

PAKRI has a well-diversified portfolio that includes debt, equity, mutual funds, and investment property. Except for mutual funds, which are outsourced to prominent asset management firms, it maintains these investments in-house.

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Prime Minister Imran Khan to open ECO Summit

PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan will be opening the 14th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) to be held virtually on Thursday. According to the details, the theme of the Summit is “Regional Economic Cooperation in the Aftermath of COVID-19. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will Chair the 14th Summit. Sharing Pakistan’s perspective on COVID-19 … Read more