TIANJIN, Sep 1 (Alliance News): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to promote dialogue, peace, and regional cooperation, stressing the need for a structured mechanism to resolve longstanding disputes in South Asia.
Addressing the 25th SCO Heads of States Council Meeting, the prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism, saying the SCO best represented the country’s vision for regional integration.
He cautioned against unilateralism, voicing concern over recent disturbing developments in the region.
“Pakistan has always believed in dialogue and diplomacy, rejecting confrontation,” Shehbaz said, emphasizing that Islamabad sought normal and stable relations with its neighbors.
On security, he reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of terrorism in all forms, including “state terrorism,” recalling the nation’s sacrifices of over 90,000 lives and economic losses exceeding $152 billion.
He accused foreign elements of involvement in terror attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Jaffar Express train hostage incident.
Turning to global conflicts, Shehbaz condemned Israel’s aggression against Iran, an SCO member state, and demanded an immediate end to bloodshed in Gaza. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Palestine.
On Afghanistan, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s support for a peaceful and stable country, expressing optimism that trilateral cooperation with China and Afghanistan would yield positive results.
Highlighting the impact of climate change, he mentioned the devastating floods in Pakistan caused by torrential rains, thanking the international community, particularly China, for their assistance.
Discussing economic recovery, Shehbaz noted reduced inflation, a current account surplus, and a more active capital market.
He outlined Pakistan’s transformation plan, centered on export-led growth, foreign investment in infrastructure, IT, AI, agriculture, energy, and minerals, along with comprehensive tax reforms.
He underscored youth empowerment as a key priority, saying Pakistan was creating opportunities for innovation and employment to turn its youth into a national asset.
Praising China’s role, he lauded President Xi Jinping’s visionary leadership and initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and global initiatives like GDI, GSI, and GCI.
He called CPEC a flagship project and urged enhanced regional connectivity through reliable land, air, and rail corridors.
The prime minister also congratulated Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on their national days.
