SCO Summit 2024 Pakistan is all set to host the twenty-third meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) on October 15-16 in Islamabad. This prestigious event, known as the SCO Summit 2024 Pakistan, will take place at the Jinnah Convention Centre and will be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, highlighting the country’s role as the current chair of the CHG.
What is SCO?
The SCO Summit 2024 Pakistan is a landmark occasion for the nation, offering an opportunity to enhance its diplomatic and strategic ties with major global powers. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), established on June 15, 2001, by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, is a permanent intergovernmental international organization. Its core aim is to strengthen multilateral cooperation, promote peace, security, and foster a new international economic order.
Since joining the SCO in 2017, Pakistan has been actively engaged in the organization’s activities. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, at a recent briefing, emphasized that Pakistan remains dedicated to the principles and objectives of the SCO Charter and the values of the Shanghai Spirit.
What is the Council of Heads of Government (CHG)?
The Council of Heads of Government (CHG) is the second highest decision-making body within the SCO, after the Council of Heads of States (CHS). It focuses primarily on promoting cooperation among member states in socio-economic, trade, and financial sectors.
The CHG meets annually to discuss strategies for multilateral collaboration, set priorities for the organization, and approve the SCO’s budget. Pakistan assumed the rotating chair of the CHG in 2023, following the previous meeting in Bishkek on October 26, 2023, where it was represented by then-Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Significance of SCO Summit 2024 Pakistan
The SCO Summit 2024 Pakistan will see participation from some of the world’s most influential leaders. Prime Ministers from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and high-ranking representatives from India and Iran are expected to attend.
This includes Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will represent Pakistan as the chair, ensuring Pakistan plays a leading role in regional diplomacy.
International Representation and Collaboration
In addition to the SCO member states, leaders from observer nations and special guests will also attend. This includes Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai as an Observer and Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Rashid Meredov, as a Special Guest.
Representatives from international organizations such as the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the European Economic Community are also expected, underscoring the global importance of the event.
Pakistan’s Strategic Role
As the chair of the CHG, Pakistan aims to use the SCO Summit 2024 Pakistan as a platform to promote regional stability, enhance economic cooperation, and push for multilateral initiatives in trade and development. The event provides a unique opportunity for Pakistan to showcase its leadership in regional diplomacy and reaffirm its commitment to the shared goals of the SCO.
Moreover, In preparation for the SCO Summit 2024, Islamabad has implemented a three-day traffic diversion plan from October 14 to 16, 2024. Heavy traffic will be prohibited to ensure smooth mobility for summit participants. Over 1,100 traffic police officers will manage the flow throughout the city.
Residents are urged to use alternative routes to avoid congestion. Recommended routes include Taxila, Motorway, and Chakri Interchange for travelers from Peshawar to Rawat, and Rawat and Chak Beli Road for those coming from Lahore. Vehicles from Rawalpindi should take Ninth Avenue, while traffic from Zero Point will also be redirected to ease movement.
