During a two-day trip, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Samarkand, the capital of Uzbekistan, on Thursday to attend the annual meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).The CHS, the highest forum of the SCO, sets the organization’s goals, strategy, and priorities.
The SCO summit will take place in Uzbekistan from September 15 to 16, and the premier has accepted the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to participate. Important global and regional challenges, such as climate change, food security, energy security, and sustainable supply chains will be covered during the summit presided over by Mirziyoyev. Agreements and documents would also require approval from the SCO leaders.
The prime minister would meet with other participating leaders in person outside of the summit during the Council of Heads of State gathering. Pakistan has been actively pursuing the SCO’s main goals through its involvement in different SCO processes ever since it became a full member in 2017.
Nearly half of the world’s population and a quarter of the world’s economic output are collectively represented by the SCO member states. In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, it was stated that Pakistan’s vision for enhancing economic connectivity as well as peace and stability in the region was in line with the SCO’s agenda of promoting peace and stability and seeking enhanced linkages in the economic, trade, and cultural spheres.
