Pakistan Set to Host 23rd SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting

Pakistan is gearing up to host the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad from Tuesday. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the two-day meeting, which brings together top leaders from SCO member states.

Representatives from SCO Member States

The meeting will be attended by:

• Prime Ministers of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
• First Vice President of Iran
• External Affairs Minister of India
• Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang

Observer States and Special Guests

• Prime Minister of Mongolia as Observer State
• Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan as Special Guest

Agenda and Bilateral Meetings

The SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting will focus on:

• Ongoing cooperation in economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages
• Reviewing the organization’s performance

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also hold bilateral meetings with visiting heads of delegations on the sidelines of the meeting.

Preparations and Security

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that all institutions and departments have made excellent arrangements for the SCO summit. He urged a political party to retract its call for protest in the Federal Capital, citing the larger interest of the country.

Background on SCO

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established on June 15, 2001, aims to strengthen multisphere cooperation, promote peace and security, and foster a new economic international order.

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