Pakistan to Share Knowledge With CAREC Countries: Ahsan Iqbal

Pakistan plans to prioritize knowledge sharing as a cornerstone of its leadership role within the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) organization once it takes on the presidency in 2027, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Addressing the Governing Council meeting of the CAREC Institute in Ulaanbaatar, Iqbal outlined plans to establish a regional knowledge platform and expert directory where CAREC member countries could exchange data, policy tools, project evaluations, and practical experiences.

This initiative aims to enable policymakers to glean insights from successful strategies implemented in other nations and tailor them to their unique challenges.

Furthermore, Iqbal proposed a CAREC peer exchange facility to facilitate connections between officials tackling analogous issues. The proposed focal areas for collaboration encompass trade facilitation, digital customs, logistics, renewable energy, disaster response, agriculture, and skills development. He emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation on coordinated border management, digital trade systems, and shared climate-risk information, asserting that addressing regional challenges necessitates regional responses.

Pakistan is currently gearing up to assume the CAREC Chairmanship in 2027. During his address, Iqbal outlined Pakistan's commitment to working alongside CAREC member countries, the CAREC Institute, and the Asian Development Bank on initiatives related to economic corridors, trade facilitation, digital connectivity, and climate resilience.

He cited Pakistan's Pakistan Single Window as a potential model for regional peer exchange and encouraged Pakistani universities and research institutions to participate in the CAREC knowledge network. "The first twenty-five years of CAREC demonstrated what we can construct together. The following twenty-five should illustrate what we can learn together," stated Iqbal.

He further highlighted that the CAREC Institute should transform into a regional knowledge hub, responsible for gathering, testing, and disseminating knowledge while assisting member countries in converting that knowledge into actionable policy solutions.