Astana: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit today, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing the organization’s role as a key regional forum for achieving peace and prosperity. The summit, which brings together leaders from diverse nations, focused on harnessing the collective socio-economic potential of the member states.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Prime Minister Sharif emphasized the critical role of the SCO in shaping a promising future through cooperation and connectivity. He highlighted the importance of rising above geopolitical divides to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the region’s peoples. In his speech, the Prime Minister stressed the significance of turning promises into actions, particularly regarding the development of efficient transport corridors and reliable supply chains across the SCO region.

The Prime Minister pointed to Pakistan’s strategic location as an ideal conduit for regional trade, noting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, complements the SCO’s objectives for enhanced regional connectivity and economic interaction.

Furthermore, Shehbaz Sharif proposed the promotion of national currencies for mutual settlements within the SCO to shield against international financial shocks and supported the creation of an alternative SCO development funding mechanism to rejuvenate various developmental initiatives.

The summit also saw the Prime Minister welcoming the SCO’s agreement on environmental protection, reinforcing Pakistan’s dedication to a sustainable and nature-positive agenda. On the subject of Afghanistan, he urged the international community to engage constructively with the Afghan interim government to support their economic and development efforts, while calling on the Afghan leadership to prevent their territory from being used for terrorist activities.

Highlighting unresolved regional disputes, Shehbaz Sharif cited United Nations Security Council resolutions as a framework for their resolution, lamenting the delay in their implementation which has prolonged suffering in affected areas.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister expressed profound concern over ongoing violence in Palestine, urging the SCO to condemn Israeli actions and advocate for a ceasefire to pave the way for a two-state solution.