Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Multilateralism, Dialogue and SCO Cooperation

Tiajin: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday made a strong call for regional cooperation and structured dialogue under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), urging its leadership to address longstanding disputes in South Asia. He warned that the region had witnessed “extremely disturbing developments” in recent months and stressed that dialogue, not confrontation, was the only way forward. The premier underlined that Pakistan, with its sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and unwavering support for multilateralism, remains committed to peace, stability, and integration in the region.

Addressing the 25th SCO Heads of States Council Meeting, PM Sharif said Pakistan sought normal and stable relations with its neighbors while condemning terrorism in all forms, including what he termed as “state terrorism.” He recalled Pakistan’s sacrifices of over 90,000 lives and economic losses exceeding $152 billion in the fight against extremism, blaming foreign elements for terror incidents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Jaffar Express train hostage tragedy.

The prime minister strongly denounced Israel’s “unjustified aggression” against Iran and called for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, reiterating Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution with pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as Palestine’s capital. On Afghanistan, he said Pakistan supports a peaceful and stable neighbor and expressed optimism about trilateral cooperation with China and Afghanistan.

Highlighting the toll of climate-induced disasters, Sharif pointed to Pakistan’s devastating floods caused by torrential rains and thanked China and the international community for their solidarity. Despite challenges, he noted Pakistan’s path of economic recovery, citing reduced inflation, a current account surplus, and rising capital market activity.

He outlined Pakistan’s transformation plan focusing on export-led growth, foreign investment in infrastructure, AI, IT, minerals, agriculture, energy, and comprehensive tax reforms, while emphasizing youth empowerment as the backbone of future development.

The prime minister lauded China’s chairmanship of the SCO, praising President Xi Jinping’s visionary leadership and initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and global initiatives on development, security, and civilization. Stressing the importance of connectivity, he called for efficient land, air, and rail corridors to ensure reliable supply chains, adding that the expansion of CPEC could practically demonstrate SCO’s vision for integration.