PM Shehbaz Sharif Joins SCO Leaders in Bishkek Summit

BISHKEK: (News Desk) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday joined the leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Bishkek for the meeting of the Council of Heads of State.

Upon his arrival at the summit venue, Prime Minister Shehbaz was warmly welcomed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov. The two leaders exchanged greetings and posed for a group photograph with other heads of state before the formal session began.

The summit is being attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, among other leaders.

President Zhaparov is chairing the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting as Kyrgyzstan holds the organisation’s rotating presidency for the 2025–2026 term.

The prime minister is also scheduled to participate in the SCO Plus Summit, which brings together representatives from non-member countries and international organisations.

Pakistan will take over the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026–2027 period, providing Islamabad with an opportunity to play a greater role in advancing regional cooperation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and senior government officials.

During his visit, the prime minister is expected to hold talks with President Zhaparov on bilateral relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. The discussions will cover trade and investment, energy cooperation, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people contacts, with a focus on strengthening ties between the two countries.