Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to accelerate economic integration, expand engagement with partner countries, and modernize the bloc to meet emerging regional and global challenges.
Addressing the 24th SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), Dar emphasized trade, investment, culture, and humanitarian cooperation as the foundation of a “mature, future-oriented” SCO. He highlighted outcomes of the recent Tianjin summit, including deeper economic collaboration, enhanced infrastructure connectivity, investment partnerships, and promotion of digital economies.
The deputy PM called for stronger project-based cooperation with SCO observer and partner states, moving beyond passive participation. He welcomed the introduction of English as a working language and proposed translation units to expand the organisation’s global outreach.
Dar underscored humanitarian and disaster preparedness, noting Pakistan’s “technology-driven, proactive” disaster management system and offering simulation exercises with member states to strengthen regional readiness.
He also proposed activating financial tools like the SCO Interbank Consortium, advancing plans for an SCO Development Bank, and expanding the SCO University Network into a consortium for applied knowledge. The initiative aims to promote student exchanges and joint research in information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, water management, and telemedicine.
Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional cooperation, describing the SCO as a “launch pad for shared success” to foster innovation, connectivity, and integration among member states.
