ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani announced on Thursday that Pakistan, having assumed leadership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Council of Heads of Government for the coming year, aims to host a conference on transportation and connectivity later this year to enhance regional prosperity.
Jilani made these remarks while participating in the 22nd meeting of the council in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he is leading his country’s delegation.
The council is the second-highest body within the SCO and focuses on issues related to economy, finance, trade and socio-economic collaboration.
“Pakistan plans to host a conference on transport and connectivity for regional prosperity this year,” the interim foreign minister said, adding his country would give top priority to regional cooperation in critical and practical areas.
“These include enhancing connectivity and transport linkages, youth empowerment, investment in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, minerals, energy, climate change and information technology,” he added.
Jilani said Pakistan’s location made it an ideal trade conduit and its leadership knew that investing in connectivity was crucial to advancing the vision of shared prosperity.
“The SCO represents the collective voice and aspirations of 40 percent of the global population and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a force multiplier for regional connectivity as lack of connectivity is an impediment to regional trade, investment and development,” he added.
Jilani noted the SCO business council could play a vital role in fostering economic and commercial cooperation.
“It can also facilitate investment in areas of mutual benefit and Pakistan proposes to host SCO businessmen conference early next year,” he continued.
Addressing the situation in Afghanistan, the minister said sustainable economic development could not be guaranteed without durable peace and stability in the post-war environment.
“The SCO Afghanistan contact group can play an important role and we need to revive it since it can assist Afghan authorities in overcoming their economic challenges and building their counter-terrorism capacity,” he added.
Jilani also mentioned environmental issues in his speech, saying climate-induced disasters demanded global solidarity for a collective response.
“Pakistan plans to host a meeting on prevention and response to emergency situations during our chairmanship [of the SCO body],” he added.
Pakistan to host SCO conference on transport, connectivity this year — FM Jilani
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Pakistan to host SCO conference on transport, connectivity this year — FM Jilani
- Jalil Abbas Jilani is leading his country’s delegation to SCO’s Council of Heads of Government meeting in Bishkek
- Pakistan has taken over the council’s chair for the next year and says it will give top priority to regional cooperation
Bangladesh flag carrier to launch Dhaka–Karachi flights this month after over 13 years
- Inaugural flight scheduled to depart from Dhaka to Karachi on Jan, 29, says Biman Bangladesh Airlines spokesperson
- Airline will operate two weekly flights from the Bangladeshi capital to Pakistan’s commercial hub on Thursdays and Saturdays
ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh’s flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced it will launch direct passenger flights between the cities of Dhaka and Karachi after over 13 years later this month, the airline said on Thursday, as both nations improve historically bitter ties.
Biman will operate two weekly flights to Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city by population and its commercial hub, on Thursdays and Saturdays, the airline’s spokesperson Boshra Islam told Arab News.
“Biman is launching its Karachi operations on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026,” she said, adding that the inaugural flight is scheduled to depart from Dhaka at 8:00 p.m. local time and arrive in Karachi at 11:00 p.m. Pakistan time.
Pakistan has granted Biman initial permission to operate the route for three months until Mar. 26, according to a spokesperson for the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. The approval would be extended later, the official said.
The restoration of the airline’s flights to Pakistan marks a significant step in restoring direct air connectivity between the two South Asian nations.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of the same country until 1971, when the latter split from the former after a bloody civil war and became the independent state of Bangladesh.
Ties between both have improved significantly since 2024, after the fall of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s government due to a student-led uprising. Hasina was widely viewed in Pakistan as being close to India and openly critical of Islamabad.
The resumption of passenger flights comes as aviation and trade links between the two countries begin to recover after decades of limited engagement.
In November last year, state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said it had signed a cargo agreement with Biman Bangladesh Airlines aimed at streamlining air freight operations and boosting bilateral trade.
A PIA spokesperson said the airlines had entered into a Cargo Interline Special Agreement as part of PIA’s strategy to expand its cargo business and offer more competitive services to customers.
Pakistan has stepped up efforts to rebuild relations with Bangladesh as ties between Dhaka and New Delhi remain strained over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina after she fled the country.
In February last year, a cargo vessel sailed directly from Pakistan to Bangladesh for the first time in decades and successfully unloaded its containers, port officials said.
The two countries signed six agreements in August 2025 covering areas such as visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders, trade cooperation, media collaboration and cultural exchanges, officials said.
