Foreign minister reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive, constructive chairmanship guided by ‘Shanghai Spirit’
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar with SCO National Coordinators, senior representatives of SCO Secretariat and SCO RATS, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad, on September 30, 2026. PHOTO: ForeignOfficePk/X
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday stressed the need to translate the shared vision of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) into practical cooperation and tangible outcomes, chairing the first meeting of the Council of National Coordinators (CNC).
He also “reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to an open, inclusive, and constructive chairmanship, guided by the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, and common development,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on X.
Dar made the remarks while addressing the national coordinators of the SCO member states, along with senior representatives of the SCO secretariat and the organisation’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today addressed the National Coordinators of SCO Member States, along with senior representatives of the SCO Secretariat and SCO RATS, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad.
Welcoming the… pic.twitter.com/YROPzrn5AG
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 30, 2026
Underlining the theme of Pakistan’s chairmanship, “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, and Shared Prosperity”, Dar “stressed the need to translate the SCO’s shared vision into practical cooperation and tangible outcomes,” the Foreign Office (FO) said.
It further noted that the foreign minister highlighted preparations to host the SCO Council of Heads of State in Islamabad in 2027, calling for “close coordination among member states to ensure a successful chairmanship.”
On Monday, Pakistan chaired the first meeting of the SCO CNC, with participation from the Indian side as well, despite the freeze in bilateral relations between the two countries. Dr Mohammad Faisal, a senior Pakistani diplomat who served as Pakistan’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom, represented Pakistan in the meeting.
The meeting discussed a wide range of matters related to SCO activities and cooperation among member states, the FO had said in a statement. The participants also deliberated on the programme of events planned to be held during Pakistan’s chairmanship of the organisation.
A day earlier, the FO had announced that Pakistan would hold the first meeting, with a three-day session set to contribute to preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting that Islamabad will host in August 2027.
It added that the meeting would be held from September 28 to 30.
Read: SCO-RATS condemns military strikes against Iran
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Bishkek for a three-day official visit to attend the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting and the SCO Plus Summit, where Pakistan assumed the organisation’s chairmanship for 2026-27.
During the visit, PM Shehbaz proposed an “excellent plan” focused on key sectors including information technology and artificial intelligence, energy development, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports.
Pakistan assumed the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026-27 period, during which it is scheduled to host and oversee a series of meetings and activities under the regional grouping.
The CNC is responsible for coordinating and managing the SCO’s regular activities, including the necessary preparations for the meetings of the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government (prime ministers) and the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs. National focal points are appointed by each member state in accordance with its internal rules and procedures. It is provisioned to meet at least three times a year
