PM Shehbaz Sharif reaffirms Pakistan's commitment to strengthen SCO

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan's dedication to collaborating with other member states to bolster the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a unified regional forum for peace and prosperity.

Addressing the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Thursday in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, the premier highlighted the organisation's significant human and socio-economic potential, urging leaders to transcend partisan geopolitics for a peaceful future.

“I reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to working together to strengthen SCO as an active and integrated regional forum to achieve the common objective of peace and prosperity in line with the Shanghai spirit,” the prime minister said.

Titled “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue – Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity,” the summit is being attended by leaders from Pakistan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, India and others.

The PM emphasised the need to enhance connectivity within the SCO region and called for the implementation of efficient transport corridors and reliable supply chains.

He noted that Pakistan's strategic location makes it an ideal trade conduit for the region, with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) complementing SCO’s vision for regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

Shehbaz proposed promoting the use of national currencies for mutual settlements within the SCO to mitigate international financial shocks and supported the creation of an SCO alternative development funding mechanism to advance stalled initiatives.

The premier welcomed the SCO agreement on environmental protection and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a sustainable, nature-positive world. Highlighting the need for stability in Afghanistan.

The PM also urged meaningful international engagement with the interim Afghan government to meet their economic and developmental needs while ensuring Afghan soil is not used for terrorism.

Addressing terrorism, he called for a collective fight against all forms of extremism and emphasized respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination, referencing UNSC resolutions as a framework for resolving regional disputes.

Expressing concern over Israeli actions against Palestinians, Shehbaz urged the SCO to condemn Israeli atrocities and advocate for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al Sharif as the Palestinian capital.

The premier also condemned the rise of Islamophobia, calling it a threat to humanity that must be universally outlawed.