Pakistan is prepared to host the 23rd Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad, starting Tuesday. Foreign delegations have already begun arriving in the capital for the event.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived on Monday and was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other government officials.
A 76-member Russian delegation, seven representatives of the SCO, and a four-member official delegation from India have arrived in Pakistan. Additionally, a 15-member delegation from China, a four-member delegation from Kyrgyzstan, and a two-member delegation from Iran have reached Islamabad for the summit.
Attendees of the Summit
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) has confirmed the participation of top leaders from the SCO member countries. Prime ministers from China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will attend, along with the first vice president of Iran and the external affairs minister of India. The prime minister of Mongolia, an observer state, and the deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers and foreign minister of Turkmenistan, a special guest, will also join the summit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the current chair of the CHG, will preside over the summit. He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the visiting heads of delegation on the sidelines of the event.
Summit Agenda
The SCO meeting will focus on cooperation in areas such as the economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural connections, while reviewing the organization’s performance. Participants will adopt significant organizational decisions to enhance collaboration among member states and approve the SCO budget.
Security and Preparations
Additionally, extensive preparations have been made for the event, with an emphasis on security and beautifying Islamabad. Over 10,000 police personnel have been deployed to secure around 900 delegates attending the summit. The army and Rangers are also providing additional security.
In light of the summit, the government has declared three days of public holidays for government offices, educational institutions, and commercial centers in Islamabad.
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