ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar led the Pakistan delegation to the Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG), held in Moscow from 17–18 November 2025. He delivered Pakistan’s national statements in two sessions of the CHG and engaged with other SCO leaders on the margins of the meeting.
The DPM/FM represented Pakistan in a joint call by the Heads of Government of SCO member states on President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, who welcomed the heads of delegation in Moscow.
In his statement at the CHG Narrow Format (SCO members only) meeting, the DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the “Shanghai Spirit”. He outlined Pakistan’s priorities, notably enhancing cooperation in connectivity, energy, transport linkages, logistics and infrastructure development. He encouraged member states to take steps towards promoting the use of national currencies for mutual settlements, and called for the establishment of an SCO Development Bank, an SCO Development Fund and an Investment Fund.
On regional politics, the DPM/FM underscored the need to initiate a comprehensive dialogue to address the full spectrum of regional issues. He stressed that stability in Afghanistan remains imperative for peace and stability across the region.
In his statement at the SCO CHG Expanded Format meeting, the DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to building economic bridges through tangible actions. He emphasised the need for greater economic integration through trade, investment and digital advancement. In the humanitarian domain, he offered to share Pakistan’s experience in disaster preparedness.
He called for the modernisation of the SCO and the expansion of its global outreach by streamlining the use of English in its work. He proposed deeper engagement with Observer and Partner countries by involving them in project-based initiatives aimed at advancing shared goals. He also recommended leveraging the potential of the SCO Interbank Consortium to finance development projects in SCO countries. Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of building human capital and empowering youth by strengthening academic linkages and transforming the SCO University Network into a consortium for applied knowledge.
During the CHG Expanded Format, leaders deliberated on “the development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO, including the involvement of Observer States and Partners, in the context of modernising the Organisation’s activities and in light of the outcomes of the SCO Summit in Tianjin”. The meeting was also attended by the Prime Minister of Mongolia, the Foreign Minister of Qatar, and representatives of Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt and Turkmenistan, as well as heads of international and regional organisations including the CIS, EAEU, CSTO and CICA.
The Moscow SCO CHG considered and approved around a dozen decisions, documents and statements. The SCO leaders adopted a Joint Communiqué outlining the strategic direction for the SCO’s future work in economic cooperation.
The CHG Is the second-highest forum of the SCO, focusing primarily on cooperation among member states in the socio-economic, trade and financial sectors. Last year, the CHG was chaired by Pakistan and hosted in Islamabad in October 2024.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.