PM Shehbaz pitches water security, AI agenda for SCO chairmanship

September 01, 2026 (MLN): Water is the lifeblood of the region as it sustains millions of lives, nourishes lands and secures the future of coming generations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that water must never be weaponised or used as an instrument of political coercion. He said the treaties governing shared waters are binding commitments that must be honoured unconditionally in letter and spirit.

As Pakistan takes on the chairmanship, an action plan has been proposed prioritising information technology and artificial intelligence, energy, development and poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports.

An SCO sovereign AI infrastructure and governance framework has also been proposed to promote responsible and inclusive AI development so that no member state is left behind.

On regional connectivity, CPEC continues to serve as a gateway linking regional economies to the Arabian Sea, with trans-regional railway projects, road connectivity initiatives and regional energy projects also being advanced.

Pakistan has formally assumed the Chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for 2026-2027, with the tenure to be guided by the theme "Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity."

The transition was marked at the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, chaired by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, whose country held the rotating presidency for 2025-26.

Guided by the Shanghai Spirit, the SCO has evolved over the past 25 years into a vital platform for regional cooperation, with confidence expressed that the organisation would continue to grow from strength to strength and deliver meaningful improvements to the lives of its more than three billion people.

The next edition of the SCO Plus meeting is set to be held in Islamabad in 2027.

The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding for regional de-escalation and restoration of peace was cited as the most viable and enduring pathway to lasting peace in the region, following a crisis earlier this year in which the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an SCO member state was violated, disrupting energy supply routes and the global economy.

The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was described as defensive in nature, neither directed against any state nor intended to create confrontation or division.

The Palestinian people's right to self-determination, along with that of other oppressed nations, was raised as a commitment the international community must honour.

The Prime Minister and other leaders signed the joint declaration of the SCO meeting.

The meeting was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders, along with representatives of non-member states and international organisations at the SCO Plus Summit.

The Prime Minister and other leaders signed the joint declaration of the SCO meeting, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The meeting was also attended by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Representatives of non-member states and international organisations also attended the SCO Plus Summit.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communication Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar were part of the accompanying delegation.

Bilateral discussions were also held with President Zhaparov on the full spectrum of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations, covering trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

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