SHANGHAI Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization which was established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan ,, Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with the aim of promoting cooperation and peace among its member states, as well as fostering a new democratic, fair and rational international political and economic order. The organization was expanded in 2017 to include India and Iran in 2023 raising the total to nine member states. It is the world’s largest regional organization geography and population wise, covering about 80 percent of the Eurasia landmass and 40 percent of the world population.
Over the years, Pakistan has been hosting a number of international conferences and gatherings of foreign heads of states and governments quite successfully, purposefully and productively. No, Pakistan is all prepared to host the SCO Summit in Islamabad on October 15 and 16,2024. Pakistan had extended invitations to all the government heads of the member states quite well in time for the upcoming SCO Summit and was receiving positive responses from most of them already. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited for the important moot.
However, India has decided to send its Minister for External Affairs S.Jaishankar who has already quite categorically stated that bilateral relations between India and Pakistan will not be talked about and discussed while he will be in Islamabad for the SCO Summit.
While Pakistan was in the process of receiving confirmations from the foreign heads of government in response to the invitation extended to them, Prime Ministers of China and Russia are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad along with their delegations on Monday for attending PSO Summit scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2024 and are likely to go through some other engagements as well on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
Pakistan currently holds the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO- Council of Heads of Government and has made all possible arrangements for the important international moot holding of which poses serious challenges and holding of it quite successfully and purposefully is going to be a milestone for the host country.
As for as Pakistan is concerned, irrespective of what other distinguished guests will be having in their agendas, important priorities for it as the host country include cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism, trans-national crime as well as cooperation in socio-cultural ,economy, humanitarian matters and concerns and other regional issues. Historically speaking, Pakistan has been serving as a bridge between South and Central Asia due to its strategically important geographical positions and the SCO Summit will highlight this role. Pakistan has the potential role to play especially as an energy,and trade corridor linking Central Asia and the Indian Ocean. Great game changer China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to say the least here is a tangible manifestation of this connectivity and the SCO Summit can further amplify Pakistan’s role in regional trade and commerce.
The federal government has made all possible arrangements topped by foolproof security for which the army has already been deployed for the success of the SCO Summit. besides the arrangements made by the federal government, it will also largely depend on all political and religious parties and organizations as well as the people at large not only in the twin cities but also throughout the country.
Maintenance of law and order, peace and tranquility by everyone will certainly give a positive message to the foreign distinguished guests to the important moot.
—The writer is a freelance
Columnist, based in Lahore .
