PM Sharif calls for preparations to build new facilities and beautify Islamabad ahead of SCO leaders’ meeting.
On September 12, 2025, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan will host the Council of Heads of State summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2027, reports 24brussels.
Sharif made the announcement during the inauguration of a flyover on Islamabad’s highway, emphasizing the urgent need for preparations. “The duty of hosting the next SCO summit in 2027 rests upon us. We must begin preparations now,” he stated.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of constructing new accommodations and enhancing the capital’s aesthetics. “We must not only build new facilities, but also beautify Islamabad,” he added, underscoring the significance of this event for the nation.
In October 2024, Pakistan hosted the 23rd meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government. As part of its leadership role, Pakistan will assume the rotating presidency of the SCO Council of Heads of State and the Council of Foreign Ministers during the 2026-2027 period.
The SCO, as the highest decision-making body of the organization, meets annually to address regional and international issues. The member states, which include China, India, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, collaborate on political, economic, and security initiatives.
Pakistan gained full membership in the SCO in June 2017, having previously served as an observer state from 2005 to 2017. However, its connections with other member countries extend back even further.
Meanwhile, at a recent SCO Summit held in the Chinese city of Tianjin, member countries agreed to establish their own development bank as outlined in the final declaration, indicating ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation within the bloc.
