ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan prepares to assume the rotating chairmanship of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in September 2026, taking over from Kyrgyzstan and hosting the official SCO Heads of State summit in 2027, Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the SCO objectives.
In a meeting with SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev at the Foreign Office, the two sides held a productive exchange on the organisation’s priorities and ways to further strengthen cooperation among member states in key areas, including economy, transport and connectivity.
Dar will also be attending the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
“They also exchanged views on regional and international developments. The secretary-general commended Pakistan’s constructive contributions to promoting regional peace, stability and cooperation,” said the Foreign Office.
The secretary-general shared his perspective and proposals for further enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the SCO and briefed the DPM/FM on preparations for the forthcoming CFM meeting.
Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to advancing the SCO’s objectives. He expressed readiness to work closely with all member states ahead of Pakistan assuming the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September 2026 and hosting the SCO Summit in 2027.
Looking ahead, Pakistan notes that as Chair, Islamabad’s agenda will primarily focus on regional connectivity, economic cooperation, poverty alleviation and counter-terrorism strategies within the bloc. Dar confirmed Pakistan’s proactive commitment to these objectives during discussions with Yermekbayev.
Dar will be attending the CFM meeting, which is basically a principal consultation mechanism of the SCO. It meets at least annually to discuss regional security, economic cooperation, transport, connectivity and major international developments. It comprises representatives from the 10 member states: India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, alongside observer states.
Meanwhile, Dar leaves today (Thursday) for a two-day visit for the signing ceremony of the establishment of World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai.
The Foreign Office in a curtainraiser said that the DPM/FM has been invited by his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Dar will also sign the agreement on behalf of Pakistan as a founding member and participate in the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the high-level meeting on global AI governance.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dar will hold a bilateral meeting with Wang Yi as well as meetings with other counterparts to discuss matters of mutual interest.
“During his engagements, the DPM/FM will share Pakistan’s perspective on strengthening international cooperation in AI, with particular emphasis on the priorities and development needs of the Global South. He will underscore the importance of bridging the global AI divide, promoting equitable access to AI technologies, enhancing capacity-building and ensuring that the benefits of AI contribute to sustainable development and shared prosperity for all,” added the Foreign Office.
