ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday urged member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to expedite regional economic integration by activating essential financial mechanisms to support connectivity and development initiatives.
Addressing the 24th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in Moscow — the organisation’s second-highest decision-making forum overseeing cooperation in trade, finance, connectivity, commerce, and socio-economic development — Dar said the joint communiqué and documents adopted at the summit would help guide collective efforts toward shared prosperity.
He noted that the SCO’s agenda, which spans trade, economy, culture and humanitarian cooperation, reflects the organisation’s evolution into a “mature, future-oriented” regional bloc. Citing outcomes of the recent Tianjin summit, he said the SCO is moving towards deeper economic integration.
Dar highlighted expanded trade collaboration, improved infrastructure connectivity, investment partnerships and the growth of digital economies as core drivers of sustainable development across member states. He also emphasised the organisation’s potential to boost humanitarian cooperation and strengthen disaster response.
Sharing Pakistan’s experience, Dar said the country had developed a “technology-driven, proactive” disaster management system, adding that Islamabad was ready to hold simulation exercises with member states to bolster regional preparedness.
Calling for more meaningful engagement with SCO observer and partner states, the foreign minister urged the organisation to move beyond “passive observation” and involve them in project-based initiatives aligned with their capacities.
He also outlined proposals for enhanced cooperation, including activation of the SCO Interbank Consortium and progress toward establishing an SCO Development Bank to support connectivity and technical collaboration projects.
Underscoring the need for human capital development, Dar called for expanding the SCO University Network into a consortium focused on applied research. Such an initiative, he said, would promote student exchanges and joint studies in key fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, water management and telemedicine.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening regional linkages, he said the SCO must serve as a “launch pad for shared success,” fostering greater innovation, interconnectedness and economic integration among member states.
Great article! It’s insightful to see the importance of regional economic integration being highlighted. Dar’s call for SCO states to accelerate these efforts and activate crucial financial mechanisms is timely and necessary. A more connected economic landscape will benefit all involved.