Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has called on Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members to convert the bloc’s shared vision into practical cooperation and tangible outcomes.
He spoke as Pakistan hosted the first meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators under its chairmanship. The three-day meeting ran from September 28 to 30 in Islamabad.
It was the first session of the coordinators’ council since Pakistan took over the rotating chair of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27. Pakistan received the chairmanship from Kyrgyzstan after the Bishkek summit, held on August 31 and September 1.
Addressing national coordinators, SCO Secretariat officials and representatives of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) at the Foreign Ministry, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to an open, inclusive and constructive chairmanship.
He said it would be guided by the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation and common development.
🔊PR No.2️⃣7️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
First Meeting of SCO Council of National Coordinators (CNC), Under the Chairmanship of Pakistan, 28-30 September, 2026
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/CDe4nbDwWD
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 30, 2026
Dar highlighted the chairmanship’s theme, “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation, and Shared Prosperity.”
Pakistan has said the program will emphasize connectivity, innovation, economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts. Coordinators were also to discuss the calendar of activities under the chairmanship and preparations for upcoming SCO meetings.
The deputy prime minister pointed to preparations for the Council of Heads of State summit, which Pakistan will host in Islamabad next year.
Officials have indicated it is scheduled for August 2027 and will be the centerpiece of the chairmanship. Dar urged close coordination among members to ensure the program is carried out successfully.
Delegates from Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took part. The SCO has ten full members, and Pakistan, a full member since 2017, previously hosted the Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad in October 2024.
Read More: India Sends Delegation to Islamabad as Pakistan Hosts SCO Coordinators Meeting
On the sidelines, the visiting delegates toured the National Emergencies Operation Centre at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquarters.
NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik briefed them on Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen regional integration and advance the global disaster risk reduction framework.
He identified scope for cooperation among members in disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, knowledge exchange, capacity building and coordinated emergency response.
He also proposed “regionalizing” proactive disaster management through standardized risk-reduction templates, to help members address shared challenges from climate change and regional vulnerabilities.
NDMA officials described the center’s operational capabilities and Pakistan’s shift towards proactive disaster management.
They also outlined plans to deploy next-generation technology to improve early warning and to get authentic, actionable information to the public quickly.
The delegation was further briefed on emergency response mechanisms and on how localized alerts are issued. The visitors praised Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its disaster management system.
