Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Pakistan has a vital interest in a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan, as it would enable both countries to serve a bridge connecting Central Asia and the Arabian Sea and beyond.

The Foreign Minister was addressing through video-link the forum of Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the third Charter organ of the United Nations on its 75th anniversary.

He said there are numerous shovel-ready projects awaiting peace in Afghanistan, such as TAPI gas pipeline, CASA-1000 electricity grid from Tajikistan and the railway connecting Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He said first phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is nearly to complete and the second phase envisages the creation of several Special Economic Zones, which are open to participation of third countries.

He said Pakistan greatly appreciates the intention of several fraternal and friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey and others, to invest in Pakistan's economy.