Almost all heads of states and governments of the member countries of Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) reached here on Tuesday to attend the 13th ECO Summit to be held today (Wednesday). President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was the first foreign dignitary to arrive Islamabad who was warmly greeted at Nur Khan Airbase by Minister of Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain and other senior officials.
President Aliyev was followed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who was received by Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Abdul Qadir Baloch at the airport. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has also arrived in the capital to participate in ECO summit. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan along with the Turkish First Lady was also warmly received by Minister for Planning and Development Ihsan Iqbal.
Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov also arrived in Islamabad to attend the Summit. As the visiting foreign dignitaries were alighting from the plane, they were presented with a salute of 21 guns. A smartly turned out contingent of armed forces presented guard of honour to the distinguished guests. National anthems were also played on the occasion.
The remaining dignitaries are also scheduled to arrive in the federal capital before the opening of the Summit scheduled for 9:00am in the morning on Wednesday. A total of 5 heads of states and 3 heads of governments, 1 deputy prime minister of the 10-member ECO countries would attend the Summit. While a special envoy of Afghanistan would also attend the Summit. According to Foreign Office sources, a number of bilateral meetings are also on the cards with different heads of state and government, with President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to discuss issues of common interests and bilateral relations.