Forum Pakistan

Economic Co-operation Organization (also ECO, Regional Co-operation for Development until 1985)
Founded in 1964, its members are Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, and since February of 1992 also include, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. ECO's principal aim is the development of regional co-operation in economic relations, expansion of trade links, and the improvement of standards of living of the member countries. ECO's governing body is the Council of Ministers, which functions at the level of deputy foreign ministers and meets twice a year. ECO's influential Council for Regional Planning (CRP) consists of representatives of the planning institutions of the member countries. There are also working committees for the specific spheres of co-operation and a secretariat consisting of the general

secretary, his three deputies, and six directors. ECO has supported more than thirty joint projects in Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey. They included chemical plants, pharmaceutical factories, metal-working plants, a number of motorways, and railways. Agreements have been concluded on air and maritime communications, also on postal, telegraph and telecommunications, tourism, and the development of cultural links. A joint insurance centre and a commercial-industrial chamber are functioning. Considerable attention is paid to avoiding double taxes in foreign trade and to the liberalization of foreign trade links.