Pakistan to assume SCO Council of Heads of State Chairmanship in September

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will assume the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September and will host the next CHS summit in 2027, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced while marking the 25th anniversary of the regional bloc.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Dar said the SCO has played a vital role in promoting regional peace, security, stability, economic cooperation, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges among member states over the past quarter century.

He noted that Pakistan’s engagement with the SCO has evolved from observer status to becoming a proactive full member since joining the organisation in 2017, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to multilateralism and regional cooperation.

Highlighting Pakistan’s upcoming assumption of the CHS chairmanship, Dar said the development reflected the trust and confidence of member states in Pakistan’s regional and global leadership role.

“Pakistan will continue to pursue a forward-looking and action-oriented agenda focused on strengthening economic collaboration, enhancing regional connectivity and fostering greater understanding among the peoples of the region,” he said.

The foreign minister recalled Pakistan’s active contributions to the organisation, including hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October 2024.

He also noted that Pakistan currently chairs the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for the 2025-26 period and serves as the permanent chair of the organisation’s working group on poverty alleviation, which aims to improve living standards across the region.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Dar described the flagship project as a model of trans-regional economic and trade integration among SCO member states.

“As a frontline state that has made unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, Pakistan highly values the SCO’s collaborative framework in combating the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism,” he said.

Dar further praised the organisation’s efforts in promoting digital innovation, energy security initiatives and the use of national currencies in mutual payments, saying these measures were helping lay the foundation for a resilient regional economy.

“We envision a prosperous future built on social cohesion and mutual respect,” he added.

Established in 2001 as a regional security cooperation platform, the SCO has gradually expanded its focus to include trade, economic development and regional connectivity.

The SCO currently comprises 10 member states — China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — while Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status.

The 2026 Council of Heads of State summit is scheduled to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, before Pakistan takes over the chairmanship later this year.