Astana: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s determination to enhance the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) efficacy as a platform for regional peace and prosperity. Speaking at the SCO Summit held in Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister highlighted the strategic importance of the SCO in leveraging its substantial human and socio-economic resources to foster a harmonious future. He emphasized the urgency of translating commitments into tangible actions to boost connectivity and economic cooperation within the region.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Prime Minister Sharif detailed Pakistan’s pivotal role in regional trade, facilitated by its geographical positioning and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He stressed the importance of adopting national currencies in financial transactions within the SCO to mitigate external economic shocks and supported the establishment of an SCO alternative development funding mechanism to rejuvenate various developmental projects. The Prime Minister also endorsed the SCO’s recent environmental protection agreement, affirming Pakistan’s commitment to a sustainable development agenda.
Further, Prime Minister Sharif addressed the situation in Afghanistan, advocating for active international engagement with the interim Afghan government to fulfill their developmental and economic needs. He insisted on the necessity for Afghanistan to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities. He condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for a unified approach to combatting extremism, respecting international laws, and upholding the principles of sovereignty and self-determination as outlined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the rise of Islamophobia and the ongoing conflict in Israel-Palestine. He urged the SCO to denounce the violence and support a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.