Pakistan to take SCO helm in September

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan will take over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September, marking a significant diplomatic milestone for Islamabad, which is also set to host the bloc's next leaders' summit the following year.

Marking the SCO's 25th anniversary, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan's assumption of the chair reflected growing confidence in the country's regional and international role.

He credited the organisation with fostering peace, security, stability, economic cooperation, regional connectivity and people-to-people exchanges across a vast geographic expanse.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Monday, Dar said Pakistan's relationship with the SCO had steadily deepened since it moved from observer status to full membership in 2017.

He said the transition underscored Islamabad's commitment to multilateral engagement and its belief in the potential of regional cooperation.

"This is a reflection of trust and confidence in Pakistan's leadership role regionally and globally," Dar said of the forthcoming chairmanship.

Outlining Islamabad's priorities, the foreign minister said Pakistan would pursue a practical and future-oriented agenda aimed at strengthening economic collaboration, improving regional connectivity and expanding engagement among SCO member states.

He noted that Pakistan had already played an active role within the organisation, including hosting the Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October 2024. Pakistan is also currently chairing the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for the 2025-26 term.

Dar further highlighted Pakistan's position as the permanent chair of the SCO working group on poverty alleviation, describing it as an important platform for improving living standards across member countries.