Moscow : November 18, 2025 – Leading Pakistan’s delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar highlighted Pakistan’s priorities within the SCO framework. He stressed trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation as key pillars of regional partnership.
He emphasised the need for greater economic integration through trade, infrastructure development, investment, and digital advancement. He also emphasized cooperation on regional disaster preparedness and expressed Pakistan’s readiness to organize joint simulation exercises with SCO partners.
The DPM/FM called for modernising the SCO and expanding its outreach by introducing English as a working language. He suggested deeper involvement of Observer and Partner States in project-based initiatives aligned with common goals. He also proposed establishing SCO financial institution and tools, as well as developing human capital by expanding academic linkages.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a more connected, innovative, and integrated region.
Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister at the SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting (Expanded Format)
Congratulations to Excellency Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, on the successful holding of the SCO CHG meeting this morning.
The Joint Communiqué and other important documents being adopted today will go a long way in guiding and strengthening our efforts, for achieving shared objectives of prosperity of our people.
The agenda before us – spanning trade, economy, culture, and humanitarian cooperation – is the basis of a mature, future-oriented SCO.
Pakistan views them as interconnected threads in a single, stronger fabric of regional partnership.
The Tianjin Summit was a clear signal. A signal that our Organization is evolving with the resolve to harness the full spectrum of our collective potential.
By focusing on economic integration through expanded trade collaboration, improved infrastructure connectivity, investment partnerships, advancement of cross-border trade corridors, and the promotion of digital economic development, the SCO has established a foundation for sustainable economic progress throughout the SCO space.
The SCO is well placed to promote regional cooperation in dealing with emergency situations and to extend cooperation in the humanitarian field among ourselves and for others in need.
Pakistan has developed a technology-driven, proactive disaster management system. We are keen to organize simulation exercises with SCO partners to bolster disaster preparedness across the region.
Our discussions at Tianjin underscored the need to modernize our outreach. The value of our Observer and Partner States is immense.
Let us move from a model of passive observation to one of real “engagement”.
Let us invite them to participate not as guests on the periphery, but as stakeholders in specific, project-based initiatives that align with their expertise and our collective goals.
This way we can create a flexible, multi-tiered model of cooperation that would benefit all.
An important feature of the modernization of the SCO is the introduction of English as a working language. Let us move forward from political declarations and establish Translation Units. The SCO can attract more partners and achieve wider global influence with this only one step.
To translate the momentum of Tianjin into tangible progress, DPM Pakistan suggested greater focus on practical, cross-cutting initiatives. Therefore, we propose to:
1. Operationalize financial tools for the promotion of trade and economy:
While our efforts continue to make available diversified financial tools, such as the SCO Development Bank, and Development and Investment Funds for our economies and businesses, we must aggressively utilize the tools already at our disposal, like the SCO Interbank Consortium, to finance connectivity and technical collaboration projects.
2. Build Human Capital:
The ultimate resource of the SCO is our people. The empowerment of our youth is of foremost importance. We must invest in them directly. Pakistan, therefore, advocates for a significant expansion of the SCO University Network into a consortium for ‘Applied Knowledge’.
This would facilitate not just student exchanges, but also joint research programs in critical fields such as, information technology, artificial intelligence, water resource management, agriculture, and telemedicine – addressing common challenges with shared intellect.
Pakistan is committed to being a proactive and creative partner in this journey. Let us build an SCO that is a launchpad for shared success, where every connection made – commercial, cultural, or intellectual – strengthens the whole.
“Let us ensure that the legacy of our work is a region more innovative, more interconnected, and more integrated than ever before. Thank you for your attention, DPM concluded.
