Islamabad: The first meeting of the National Coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is beginning in Islamabad today. The three-day meeting will continue till September 30 and will be a major step towards implementing the organization’s future program under Pakistan’s 2026-27 presidency.
Pakistan’s SCO National Coordinator will chair the meeting. Apart from the national coordinators of the member countries, representatives of the SCO Secretariat will also attend the meeting. Various issues related to mutual cooperation and coordination of the organization will be discussed in the meeting.
A key objective of the meeting is to set the agenda for Pakistan’s presidency. It will also prepare for future SCO meetings and high-level activities. Thus, the meeting in Islamabad will provide an administrative and policy-level basis for the next phase of the organization.
Pakistan has chosen the theme of its SCO presidency as “Translating Vision into Action, Coordination, Innovation and Shared Prosperity”. According to the government, the focus during this period will be on advancing regional connectivity, innovation, economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
A key aspect of Pakistan’s current presidency is to link regional cooperation with practical projects. Sectors such as information technology, artificial intelligence, energy, health, poverty reduction, disaster management, culture and sports are also among Pakistan’s priorities. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had highlighted these sectors as important opportunities for cooperation at the SCO summit.
The current meeting in Islamabad is also linked to preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting to be hosted by Pakistan in August 2027. The summit is expected to be attended by heads of member states, so the current coordination meeting will play a key role in organizing the schedule of upcoming activities and coordination.
Administrative preparations have also begun in Islamabad for next year’s summit. The Capital Development Authority has taken steps to upgrade the Jinnah Convention Center and construct a new block. Work is also underway to increase the availability of world-class hotel accommodation in the city.
The real challenge for Pakistan in the current phase of the SCO will be to transform the organization’s priorities into actionable economic, coordination and people-to-people projects, rather than limiting them to meetings alone. The meeting of national coordinators in Islamabad is an initial step in this process.
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