ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to host the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad starting Tuesday, with foreign delegations already arriving in the capital.
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.