ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is hosting two-day high-level meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad from today. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the sessions.
The SCO gathering will bring together representatives from nine full member countries, including China, Iran, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Established in 2001 by China and Russia, the organization focuses on addressing security concerns in Central Asia and beyond.
Among the notable attendees, the First Vice President of Iran and the External Affairs Minister of India will be present. Premier Li Qiang of the State Council of China will also represent his country. Additionally, the Prime Minister of Mongolia, serving as an Observer State, and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, attending as a Special Guest, will participate in the discussions.
The meeting will address ongoing cooperation in various fields, including economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural connections, while also reviewing the organization’s performance.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold important bilateral discussions with visiting heads of delegations.
Earlier today, a 76-member delegation from Russia and seven representatives of the SCO have arrived. Chinese Premier Li Qiang along with a 15-member delegation have arrived. Similarly, a four-member official delegation from India, a four-member delegation from Kyrgyzstan, and a two-member delegation from Iran, have also reached Islamabad for the summit.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that top leaders from member countries will attend the meeting. These include the prime ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Iran’s first vice president and India’s external affairs minister. The prime minister of Mongolia (observer state) and the deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers and the foreign minister of Turkmenistan (special guest) will also participate.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the SCO summit in his role as the current chair of the Council of Heads of Government. He is also expected to hold significant bilateral meetings with visiting leaders during the event.
The summit will focus on enhancing cooperation in various areas, including economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural ties, while reviewing the organization’s performance. Important organizational decisions will be made to strengthen collaboration among member states and to approve the organization’s budget.
In preparation for the summit, over 10,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed to ensure security for approximately 900 delegates. The Army and Rangers have been mobilized for additional security measures.
To facilitate the proceedings, the federal government has announced three days of holidays for public offices, educational institutions, and commercial centers in Islamabad.
