PM Shehbaz Announces Pakistan Hosting Next SCO Summit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that Pakistan will host the next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. He said that authorities should start preparing for the arrival of international guests. The announcement came shortly after the SCO summit held in Tianjin, China, where Pakistan raised important issues, including the Indus Waters Treaty. A joint statement at that summit also condemned terrorist attacks in Jaffar Express, Khuzdar, and Pahalgam.

The prime minister did not give an exact date for the upcoming summit. However, he stressed the need to begin preparations early. He said Islamabad must be beautified and more accommodation arranged for visiting dignitaries. Shehbaz also mentioned that Tajikistan gifted Pakistan tree saplings, which the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planting across the city.

This will be the second consecutive year Pakistan is hosting an SCO event. In 2024, Islamabad hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government Summit. That event was marked by tight security, business closures, and a three-day holiday in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The prime minister made the announcement during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the T-Chowk flyover. He said the one-kilometre flyover will provide major relief for commuters in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and nearby areas by reducing traffic jams. Shehbaz praised the interior minister and CDA officials for their efforts in planning the project and urged them to maintain high quality standards and finish on time.

Shehbaz also spoke about a new rail project connecting Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He said the ministries of railways and interior were planning a rail car service to add to the existing metro, bus service, and EVs. He urged authorities to begin work quickly, assuring them of full federal government support. According to him, this project would benefit not only citizens of the twin cities but also those coming from surrounding areas.