CAREC Think Tank development meeting was held at Astana on 20-21 June 2016 by the CAREC national focal person of member countries. Pakistan’s delegation was led by Mrs. Anjum Assad Amin, Pakistan National Focal Person and Additional Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD). Mrs. Amin was moderator of the session, regional connectivity and integration and operation plans. She concluded the conference on 21 June by sporting establishment of CAREC institute think tank with the hope that gap between policy, research and decision making is a bridge to promote future cooperation between the CAREC member countries for economic growth and CAREC region through integration. Event was inaugurated by the President of Nazarbayev University on 20th June 2016.

During a call on meeting with the Ambassador of Pakistan H.E. Abdul Salik Khan, she briefed him about the proceeding of the conference and discussed further ways and means to promote Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations connecting through trade, investment, energy and financial cooperation.

The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program is a partnership of 10 countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and six multilateral development partners working to promote development through cooperation, leading to accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction.

By promoting and facilitating regional cooperation in the priority areas of transport, trade facilitation, trade policy, and energy, CAREC helps Central Asian and neighboring countries realize their immense potential in an increasingly integrated Eurasia.

The program is a proactive facilitator of practical, results-based regional projects, and policy initiatives critical to trade expansion and sustainable development. Since 2001, the program has mobilized almost $27.7 billion in transport, trade, and energy infrastructure investments.