ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, where he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting and formally assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the bloc for 2026-2027.
The visit, running from August 31 to September 2, comes at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov. It marks a pivotal moment for Pakistan’s role in the Eurasian political and security alliance, as Islamabad prepares to host next year’s summit of the Council of Heads of State.
Pakistan Steps Into Regional Leadership Role
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif will address the SCO summit and present Pakistan’s position on a range of regional and global issues. The premier is accompanied by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar.
The Foreign Office confirmed that during his stay in Bishkek, the prime minister will participate in both the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting and the SCO Plus Summit. He will also attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on August 31, underscoring the cultural dimension of the visit.
Bilateral Agenda: Trade, Energy, and Connectivity
On September 2, Prime Minister Sharif will hold formal bilateral discussions with President Zhaparov. The two leaders are expected to comprehensively review Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and explore ways to deepen cooperation in several priority areas, including:
- Trade and investment
- Energy and regional connectivity
- Education and tourism
- People-to-people exchanges
The talks will also cover regional and international developments of mutual interest, as well as collaboration at multilateral forums. The Foreign Office described the relationship between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan as “warm and fraternal,” rooted in shared history, faith, and cultural affinity, as well as common aspirations for peace and prosperity in Central and South Asia.
SCO Marks 25 Years With Expanded Membership
Around a dozen world leaders are expected to gather in Bishkek to commemorate 25 years of the SCO. The organisation now comprises 10 member states: India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status.
Pakistan’s assumption of the SCO chairmanship comes at a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region. The visit is expected to consolidate momentum from recent high-level exchanges and translate political goodwill into enhanced practical cooperation, according to the Foreign Office.
The prime minister will also use the sidelines of the SCO engagements to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of other participating countries, further broadening Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach within the bloc.
