The Executive Council of the Parliamentary Association of ECO member states (PAECO), Monday, unanimously elected Dr Fehmida Mirza as President of PAECO’s 1st General Assembly.

Executive Council also approved the panel of Chairmen for the General Assembly as well as the agenda and the topics of the 1st General Assembly of the PAECO to be held on today (Tuesday).A meeting of the Executive Council of the PAECO chaired by Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza was held here.

The Speakers from Tajikistan, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan attended the meeting. In absence of the President, the Speakers of Iran and Tajikistan would chair the sessions of the General Assembly.

The Council also approved a committee comprising Secretary Generals of the Parliaments of ECO member states to deliberate and formulate rules of procedure of PAECO. The prescribed rules would be put before the next meeting of the PAECO Executive Council.

The Speaker of Afghanistan was elected as the Vice President of the 1st General Assembly in pursuance of Article 4 (f) of the PAECO Charter. It was also decided that Afghanistan would host the 2nd PAECO General Assembly which would be held in mid of year 2014.
During the course of discussions, all the Members of the PAECO eulogized the contributions of Dr Fehmida Mirza for her initiative of establishment of this parliamentary forum.

They agreed that PAECO would serve as a forum for enhancing bilateral collaboration and strengthening of people-to-people contacts. They were also of the view that the PAECO would deliberate and find solutions to the common problems being confronted by the people of the ECO region.