Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani reconfirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to promoting cooperation in essential practical areas within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) region. These areas encompass enhancing connectivity, empowering youth, investing in sectors with significant regional potential such as agriculture, mining, minerals, energy, and information technology. During Pakistan’s term as the Chair of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in SCO, Jilani emphasized Pakistan’s dedication to bolstering collaboration in education and poverty alleviation.
Speaking at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Bishkek, Jilani stated that as the succeeding Chair of the Council, Pakistan would continue to support existing mechanisms and welcome new initiatives. The council, being the second-highest body within SCO, focuses on economic, financial, trade, and socio-economic matters.
Jilani highlighted SCO’s role as a key platform for advancing Eurasian connectivity, given Pakistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. He mentioned Pakistan’s plan to host a Conference on Transport Connectivity for Regional Prosperity to facilitate economic integration in the region. Jilani stressed the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration.
He suggested that the SCO Business Council and SCO Interbank Association could play vital roles in promoting economic and commercial cooperation among member states, facilitating interaction among entrepreneurs and people-to-people contacts. Pakistan proposed to host an SCO Businessmen Conference to further these objectives. Jilani also proposed a Conference on Youth Empowerment Through Digital Economy.
Acknowledging the common challenges faced by SCO member states in poverty and food security, Jilani emphasized the need for collective efforts and shared experiences to address these issues. Pakistan, under its permanent chairmanship of the Special Working Group on Poverty Alleviation, planned to provide significant impetus to collective endeavors to improve living standards. Additionally, Jilani highlighted the importance of ensuring peace and security for sustainable economic development and expressed the imperative of stability in Afghanistan, suggesting that the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group could play a crucial role in facilitating dialogue and assisting Afghan authorities in addressing economic challenges and counter-terrorism capacities.
