ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Council of Heads of Government meeting in October this year and invite all members, including India, to attend the gathering in person in Islamabad, the foreign office spokesperson said on Thursday.
Founded by China and Russia in 2001, the SCO is a prominent Eurasian entity focused on political, economic, international security and defense matters.
It is the world’s largest regional organization by geographic coverage and population, encompassing about 80 percent of Eurasia and 40 percent of the world population.
Pakistan became an SCO member in June 2017, after holding observer status from 2005 to 2017.
“The year 2024 is an important milestone for Pakistan-SCO relations, as Pakistan holds the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, which is the second highest decision-making forum of the SCO,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the foreign office spokesperson, informed during her weekly media briefing.
“In that capacity, Pakistan will host the SCO Heads of Government meeting in October this year,” she added.
Baloch said the October conference would be preceded by a ministerial meeting and several rounds of high-level official talks among SCO member states, focusing on financial, economic, social, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
She added the conference would be held as per the SCO procedures and in-person attendance of heads of government.
“So, in our capacity as the chair, we will be extending invitations to all heads of government of SCO member states,” she added.
Baloch hoped all members of the regional grouping would be represented at the conference, which is expected to focus on trade, investment and economic connectivity.
Pakistan’s nuclear-armed neighbor, India, is also part of the SCO. The two countries have a history of strained relations and have fought several wars and border skirmishes since their independence in 1947.
India boycotted the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 2016, which was scheduled to be held in Islamabad.
Pakistan to host SCO members, including India, at October conference in Islamabad
https://arab.news/ba3ww
Pakistan to host SCO members, including India, at October conference in Islamabad
- Pakistan currently holds the rotating chairmanship of Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Council of Heads of Government
- The foreign office spokesperson says Pakistan hopes all members of the regional grouping will be able to attend the conference
Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI
- Sri Lanka wins toss and fielding first against Pakistan in 1st ODI
- xPakistan replace leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed with right-arm fast bowler Naseem Shah
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field against Pakistan in their one-day international on Tuesday.
Captain Charith Asalanka said he expected dew later in the night at Pindi Cricket Stadium and was encouraged to bowl first.
Ace leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has returned to the ODI format and a debut was handed to 24-year-old left-handed opener Kamil Mishara.
Pakistan made one forced change from the team which won the third and decisive ODI against South Africa last Saturday. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who bagged a career-best 4-27 on Saturday, was unwell and replaced by fast bowler Naseem Shah.
In the absence of specialist spinner Abrar, Pakistan will bank on spin all-rounders Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz.
Rawalpindi will host all the three ODIs in the series this week before Zimbabwe joins Pakistan and Sri Lanka for a Twenty20 tri-series.
Pakistan, led by new ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, turned around its below-par performances in 2025 by beating a depleted South Africa 2-1 last week.
Lineups:
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.
