Pakistan Launches First SCO Coordination Meeting Under Year-Long Chairmanship[TITLE]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan commenced the first meeting of national coordinators under its year-long chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s highest decision-making body on Monday, marking the beginning of preparations for a series of engagements culminating in a leaders’ summit in Islamabad next August.

The three-day gathering convenes national coordinators from the SCO’s 10 member states, who are responsible for coordinating interactions within the bloc, to establish the agenda for Pakistan’s 2026-27 chairmanship and prepare for upcoming meetings and events.

Pakistan, which assumed the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State earlier this month, has emphasized its focus on regional connectivity, innovation, economic cooperation, and people-to-people ties throughout its tenure.

“Pakistan will work closely with all Member States and the SCO Secretariat to advance these priorities and further strengthen cooperation within the SCO,” stated the foreign ministry in a Sunday announcement, noting its goal to translate members’ “shared vision” into “practical and mutually beneficial initiatives.”

The Council of National Coordinators meeting will take place in Islamabad from Sept. 28-30 and will be chaired by Pakistan’s national coordinator for the SCO, with representatives from the organization’s secretariat also in attendance.

The SCO is a Eurasian political, security, and economic grouping founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Pakistan and India became full members in 2017, Iran joined in 2023, and Belarus became the bloc’s 10th member in 2024.

The organization’s stated objectives include strengthening regional security and stability while promoting cooperation in trade, economy, energy, transportation, technology, and culture.

Its Council of Heads of State serves as the SCO’s highest decision-making body, meeting annually to address major issues and set organizational priorities. The Council of National Coordinators facilitates interaction among member states and assists in preparing meetings of senior SCO bodies.

Pakistan assumed the 2026-27 chairmanship from Kyrgyzstan at an SCO leaders’ summit in Bishkek on Sept. 1, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”

The chairmanship entrusts Islamabad with overseeing the SCO’s program over the coming year and hosting the next Council of Heads of State summit in August 2027.

Pakistan previously chaired the SCO Council of Heads of Government, hosting a summit of prime ministers in Islamabad in October 2024.

The foreign ministry characterized this week’s meeting as an “important initial engagement” under Pakistan’s chairmanship, stating it will contribute to preparations for high-level meetings and other activities over the coming year.

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