Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar met with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary General, Norlan Yermekbayev, during his official visit to Pakistan. The high-level meeting focused on enhancing cooperation under the SCO framework in key areas such as transportation and logistics, energy security, food security, healthcare, e-commerce, and green economy.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the Deputy Prime Minister extended his congratulations to Yermekbayev on assuming his responsibilities as the new Secretary General of the SCO. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for the SCO Secretariat and its initiatives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that Ishaq Dar emphasized Pakistan’s strong ties with SCO member states and reiterated the country’s commitment to upholding the “Shanghai Spirit.” He appreciated the organization’s potential in promoting regional peace and security.
Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s constructive engagement with the SCO, especially in areas of mutual benefit such as bilateral trade, transportation, and regional connectivity. Secretary General Yermekbayev thanked Pakistan for its warm hospitality and acknowledged the country’s active participation in SCO activities.
He commended Pakistan’s successful hosting of the Council of Heads of Government meeting of SCO member states, scheduled for October 2024 in Islamabad, and praised its ongoing contributions to the organization’s goals.
Both dignitaries discussed ways to advance cooperation in critical sectors like transport, logistics, energy, food security, healthcare, e-commerce, and sustainable green economy within the SCO framework.
Founded on June 15, 2001, the SCO is a ten-member intergovernmental regional organization. Pakistan became an observer in 2005 and gained full membership in June 2017. The country has since actively promoted regional peace, stability, and socio-economic development through the SCO platform.
Last year, Pakistan hosted the 23rd SCO Summit at the Jinnah Convention Center in Islamabad, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the two-day summit, the Prime Minister called for greater investment in regional connectivity and collective collaboration.
The SCO region represents one of the largest economic and demographic blocs in the world, comprising 3.5 billion people (40% of the global population), a GDP exceeding $30 trillion (30% of global GDP), and $2.5 trillion in global trade. SCO meetings consistently emphasize strengthening bilateral trade and enhancing regional connectivity.
With growing opportunities for access to SCO markets, Pakistan is strategically positioned to boost trade ties, especially with countries like Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Efforts are underway to deepen bilateral economic partnerships between Pakistan and SCO member states in the years ahead.
