Islamabad, Rawalpindi to observe three-day public holiday during SCO summit

The government has declared a three-day public holiday in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

According to a notification issued on Monday, all educational institutions and government offices in the twin cities will remain closed from October 14 to 16.

The decision was approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a bid to facilitate the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, scheduled for October 15 and 16 in Islamabad.

Leaders from across the Eurasian region, including the Russian and Chinese prime ministers, are expected to attend the two-day summit.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will also travel to Islamabad for the event. This marks the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years, with Sushma Swaraj being the last in December 2015. Swaraj’s visit came just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise stopover in Lahore.

The SCO, an influential Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance, was established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The organisation has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, while Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia hold observer status. The bloc is often seen as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO, playing a key role in promoting regional cooperation.