Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that water is the lifeblood of the region and should not be used as a political pressure or weapon against any country. He also stressed full compliance with agreements related to shared rivers.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday. He said that South and Central Asia cannot fully benefit from its economic potential without lasting peace in the region.
Shahbaz Sharif said that water is directly linked to the lives of millions of people, agriculture and the future of future generations. According to him, using water to exert pressure or gain political advantage is not in the interest of the region.
The Prime Minister’s statement came against the backdrop of the ongoing dispute between Pakistan and India over the Indus Waters Treaty. Without naming any country, he clarified that international agreements on shared waters are binding obligations and cannot be ignored according to political expediency.
He said that Pakistan will continue to support peaceful resolution of disputes, international law and the principles of the United Nations and the SCO.
Shahbaz Sharif also called terrorism one of the major problems of the region. He said that Pakistan has suffered heavy human and economic losses in the war on terrorism. According to him, more than 90,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives in the last two and a half decades, while the economy has suffered a loss of more than $150 billion.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan wants a peaceful and stable Afghanistan; however, terrorist acts against Pakistan from Afghan soil are a major challenge to regional peace. He stressed the need to further strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation among SCO member states.
Pakistan has also assumed the chairmanship of the SCO for 2026-27 at the Bishkek summit. Islamabad has chosen the theme of Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity for its presidency.
The prime minister said that Pakistan will seek to enhance cooperation in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, energy, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports during its chairmanship.
He also proposed the creation of a common framework for the SCO on artificial intelligence infrastructure and its responsible use. He said that the benefits of technology should reach all member states so that the development gap does not widen further.
Shehbaz Sharif also included regional connectivity among Pakistan’s priorities. He said that better roads, railway networks, secure energy routes and robust supply chains are essential for the economic development of the region.
He also listed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as an important regional connectivity project and stressed the need for more cooperation in railways, roads and energy projects.
The Prime Minister also supported the effective implementation of the SCO’s development strategy by 2035 and the establishment of the organisation’s development bank. According to him, transforming economic cooperation into practical projects would prove to be more beneficial for the organisation’s member states.
Regarding regional tensions, Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan has prioritised dialogue and diplomacy in recent crises. He also mentioned Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the US and called the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding important.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. He urged the international community to take effective measures for the fundamental rights and self-determination of the Palestinian people.
Referring to the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, Shehbaz Sharif said that defence cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey is not against any country. According to him, its aim is to strengthen common security and create stability in the region.
On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also met with officials from different countries. He met with Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization Chief Ibrahim Kalin and discussed the regional situation and issues related to the Mecca Joint Defence Treaty.
Ishaq Dar also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation. The Pakistani Foreign Minister stressed the need to continue diplomatic contacts and seriously implement the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Dar also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and representatives of other countries. Bilateral relations, regional situation and global affairs were discussed in these contacts.
The Prime Minister also met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The two leaders agreed to increase cooperation in various fields, including trade, industry, agriculture, IT and technical training.
Meanwhile, Lahore has been declared the SCO tourism and cultural capital for 2026-27. This honour will give Pakistan an opportunity to increase tourism, culture and people-to-people contacts with the organisation’s member states.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the need for reforms in the United Nations in his address to the SCO Plus meeting. According to him, in the changing global situation, there is a need to make the global organisation more effective, responsive and representative.
Pakistan’s one-year SCO chairmanship is likely to focus on regional connectivity, economic cooperation, technology, energy and counter-terrorism. The next SCO summit will be held in Pakistan in 2027.
