KARACHI: Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi on Friday called for stronger cooperation among Asian countries to address shared economic, environmental and regional challenges.
He was speaking to a delegation of Ambassadors, Consuls General and other diplomatic representatives from ASEAN member countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar, during a meeting at Governor House.
The discussions covered bilateral relations, regional cooperation, environmental protection and ways to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties.
The Governor described the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an important regional organisation contributing to stability, mutual cooperation and collective development. Developing countries faced common economic, social and environmental challenges that required coordinated responses, he said.
Highlighting climate change as a shared threat, he called for regional cooperation to tackle its effects, particularly heavy rainfall, floods and natural disasters, and urged countries to benefit from one another’s experience.
Hashmi said Pakistan’s foreign policy was strengthening its diplomatic standing and international recognition, adding that the participation of ASEAN diplomats reflected growing engagement between Pakistan and the international community.
Referring to regional tensions, he said Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar had played important roles in efforts to promote peace and stability.
To a question on water security, the Governor said access to water was a fundamental human right and no country should be deprived of this essential resource. He described India’s threat to restrict Pakistan’s water supply as water aggression, saying the use of water as a political instrument could undermine regional peace and stability.
Appreciating the diplomats’ participation in the plantation campaign, Hashmi said the initiative symbolised a shared commitment to environmental protection and stronger ties among Asian nations. An ASEAN Corner has also been established at the urban forest.
ASEAN comprises 11 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026