Moscow, November 19, 2025: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar led Pakistan’s delegation at the 24th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Moscow, advocating for enhanced regional connectivity, new financial mechanisms, and deeper engagement with key partners, including Russia and China.
The CHG, held from November 17 to 18, brought together heads of government of SCO member states. On the sidelines, Dar held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with Russian and Chinese officials, as well as leaders from other SCO member and partner countries.
Key SCO priorities highlighted by Pakistan
During the Narrow Format (members only) session, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the “Shanghai Spirit” and outlined priorities including,
- Strengthening connectivity, energy, transport linkages, logistics, and infrastructure development
- Encouraging use of national currencies for mutual settlements
- Proposing the establishment of an SCO Development Bank, SCO Development Fund, and Investment Fund
Dar also emphasized the importance of regional stability, noting that peace in Afghanistan remains critical for overall security in the region.
In the Expanded Format session, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to economic integration through trade, investment, and digital advancement. He proposed sharing Pakistan’s expertise in disaster preparedness, modernizing the SCO, and enhancing engagement with Observer and Partner countries through project-based initiatives.
He also called for leveraging the SCO Interbank Consortium to finance development projects, strengthening human capital, and transforming the SCO University Network into a hub for applied knowledge.
Bilateral engagements with Russia and China
On Wednesday, Dar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, reviewing the full spectrum of Pakistan-Russia relations. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and pledged to deepen coordination at multilateral fora, including the United Nations and SCO.
Dar also held substantive talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, focusing on cooperation in politics, trade, energy, connectivity, agriculture, education, IT, and tourism. Overchuk highlighted Pakistan’s potential as a regional hub for transit trade and welcomed Islamabad’s recent engagement with Armenia, noting its benefits for relations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
At the margins of the CHG, Dar engaged with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, reaffirming the all-weather Pakistan–China strategic partnership and reviewing multilateral cooperation under the SCO.
Engagements with other SCO members
Dar also held meetings with leaders from Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. He exchanged views on bilateral ties and SCO initiatives, congratulating Kyrgyz and Tajik leaders on assuming key SCO leadership roles, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening relations and cooperation at multilateral platforms.
The CHG approved around a dozen decisions, documents, and statements, adopting a joint communique that outlines the strategic direction for the SCO’s future work in economic, trade, and financial cooperation. Pakistan, which hosted the 2024 CHG in Islamabad, continues to advocate for a connected, stable, and economically integrated regional framework through the SCO.
