ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Tuesday observed that the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting recently hosted by Pakistan has bolstered the country’s image globally.

She was delivering a keynote address at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Post-SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting 2024: Unpacking the Results and Opportunities’. The event was organised by Centre for SCO Studies at the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, Pakistan-SCO Friendship Forum and the Riphah Institute of Public Policy, Riphah International University.

The spokesperson shared the key highlights of the SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting 2024 and key outcomes of the discussion. She said next year, Pakistan would be heading the Regional Anti-terrorism Structures (RATS) body in the SCO, and the following year, it will be chairing the SCO Council of Heads of State in 2026 and will host a similar summit then.

President of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies Dr Farhat Asif, in her opening remarks, highlightedthe importance of evaluating the strategic and economic impacts of the recent SCO meeting.

She said the SCO summit had reinforced the importance of fostering multilateral cooperation across diverse sectors such as security, trade and sustainable development.

Speaking on the occasion, Director of the China-Pakistan Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) Dr Talat Shabbir highlighted the economic and strategic benefits that Pakistan could derive from the SCO, especially in terms of security cooperation and economic collaboration.

Prof Dr Shabbir emphasised that economic stability and security go hand in hand, and Pakistan’s growing involvement in the SCO strengthened both aspects.

Head of the Department of International Relations at the National University of Modern Languages (Numl) Dr Sarwat Rauf spoke on the potential for enhanced trade and economic connectivity between Central Asia and South Asia. She underscored the importance of Pakistan’s role in facilitating regional security dialogues, particularly in addressing terrorism and extremism.

Dean of Social Sciences at MY University Dr Mohammad Munir presented a detailed analysis of the key takeaways from the summit. He shed light on Pakistan’s pivotal role as host, which showcased its diplomatic leadership in fostering regional cooperation. He also highlighted various regional projects that were progressing in building regional peace and cooperation, including Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC apart from various others.

Director of the Riphah Institute of Public Policy Dr Rashid Aftab concluded the session by discussing the future prospects for Pakistan within the SCO framework.

He said the summit’s focus on sustainable development, climate action and renewable energy aligned with Pakistan’s national development priorities. Dr Aftab reiterated the need for increased academic and policy-oriented collaboration between SCO member states to address common challenges and maximise mutual benefits.

The event was attended by diplomats, academics, students and members of civil society, including media. Other speakers on the occasion said the SCO summit had offered Pakistan a unique opportunity to further enhance regional connectivity options and promote trade and economic ties apart from security and strategic cooperation within the SCO.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2024