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
Pakistan arrests suspect arriving from Cambodia amid crackdown on human smuggling
- Suspect worked at an “online fraud company” in Cambodia, later started smuggling people from Pakistan, says FIA
- Pakistan has intensified crackdown against human smugglers after hundreds of migrants drowned near Pylos in 2023
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday said it had arrested a key suspect involved in smuggling humans who had arrived from Cambodia, alleging he was also part of an international fraud network.
The suspect, identified as Zainullah, was arrested by FIA officials when he arrived in the southern port city of Karachi from Cambodia.
Zainullah had traveled from Pakistan to Cambodia in September 2024, a press release issued by the agency said.
“He worked at an online fraud company in Cambodia and later became involved as an agent in recruiting individuals from Pakistan,” the FIA said.
The FIA said it recovered images of multiple individuals’ passports, payment receipts and bank transaction records after extracting data from Zainullah’s phone.
It said the suspect received money through personal bank accounts and a cryptocurrency account.
“The suspect has been handed over to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, Karachi, for further legal proceedings,” the FIA said.
“Further investigation is underway.”
Pakistan intensified action against illegal migration in 2023 after hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned when an overcrowded vessel sank off the Greek town of Pylos, one of the deadliest boat disasters in the Mediterranean.
Authorities say they continue to target networks sending citizens abroad through dangerous routes, following heightened scrutiny at airports and a series of arrests involving forged documents.
Pakistan’s interior ministry said this week illegal migration to Europe has declined by 47 percent this year after its nationwide crackdown, saying that more than 1,700 human smugglers have been arrested in 2025.
