Dushanbe, 19 September 2021 (TDI): Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan attended the 20th session of Shanghai Cooperation Organization-Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit 2021 held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 17th September 2021. In his address during the session he pointed out five major challenges-COVID-19, climate change, terrorism, violation of Security Council resolutions for peaceful settlement of disputes, and Afghanistan- the entire world is facing in common.
After underlining these challenges he mentioned Pakistan’s changed policy from geo-politics to geo-economics. Its economic policy rests on three pillars that is peace, development partnerships, and connectivity. Further, he said Pakistan’s geostrategic location and infrastructure of roads, rails, sea, and air links within SCO space is immensely vital for realizing economic prosperity in the region and beyond.
In the end, Prime Minister Imran Khan proposed five agenda items as a way forward:
– Support for effective multilateralism, and principles and objectives of the United Nations.
– Collective endeavors including SCO Joint Advisory measures to mitigate adverse economic impacts of COVID-19.
– Coordinated approach towards stabilizing Afghanistan’s situation.
– Fostering regional connectivity. In this regard, the prime minister proposed to host a conference in a virtual mode in 2022 with a theme, Transport Connectivity for Regional Prosperity.
– Recognizing the potential of the youth. Again he proposed to host a conference, Youth Empowerment through Digital Economy, in 2022.
The address of Imran Kahn shows Pakistan and its government’s resolve towards bringing peace and prosperity to the region.