ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan gears up to host its first-ever Council of Heads of Government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad, analysts warn that hopes for a breakthrough in ties with arch-rival India remain slim despite the participation of a delegation from the neighboring country.
The summit, scheduled for October 15-16, is considered significant as Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will attend the gathering, marking the first visit by a senior Indian official to Pakistan in nearly a decade. However, no bilateral talks are expected due to ongoing tensions over Kashmir. The last high-level interaction between the two nations took place during the SCO meeting in Goa in May 2023, where strained relations persisted.
“They are coming here not for Pakistan but for the SCO meeting, and given the past and the recent history of our relationship, I don’t think we can expect a significant softening, especially when it’s a minister-level official, not a leader of the country,” Dr. Nafees Zakaria, who served foreign ministry spokesman, told Arab News this week while responding a question about the Indian delegation.
The summit comes amid heightened security concerns, following the killing of two Chinese nationals in a suicide bombing in Karachi earlier this month, as well as a general rise in militant attacks across the country.
Asked about his expectations from the regional summit, Zakaria expressed a desire for the SCO to take concrete steps toward promoting peace in the region.
“It would be a significant milestone if these countries could agree on a security arrangement, making the security of this region a shared and collective responsibility,” he said.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION
Speaking to Arab News, Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of the China-Pakistan Study Center at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, emphasized the significance of the summit, noting the participating states would focus on trade, connectivity and security.
He stressed that member nations need to set aside their territorial disputes in order to enhance business opportunities and strengthen regional economies for the benefit of their populations.
“We increase our business, we enhance our connectivity, we enhance our economy, and we have to think for the good of the general population of our country, of the region,” he said while also highlighting the political benefits for Pakistan in hosting the multilateral forum.
“There is propaganda against Pakistan that it is being isolated by the world powers, but [this meeting] will prove it’s not true,” he continued. “Had it been isolated, a number of heads of state would not have come to our country.”
Dr. Khaqan Najeeb, former adviser to Pakistan’s finance ministry, said the upcoming SCO meeting could foster regional cooperation on economic issues while addressing shared challenges like security and trade barriers.
“The summit can help Pakistan bolster its economic standing by demonstrating its intent to integrate more deeply into regional and global markets,” he said. “Any enhanced trade agreements with SCO member states could open new markets for Pakistani goods.”
Another analyst, Shakeel Ramay, who writes on regional economic developments, agreed, noting the SCO presents multiple opportunities for Pakistan to tackle its economic and energy challenges.
“Pakistan can benefit from the vast market, as SCO member states constitute 40 percent of the world’s population and have a combined GDP of around $24 trillion,” he told Arab News. “They control 20 percent of the world’s oil and 44 percent of its gas reserves.”
He further added: “With the inclusion of Saudi Arabia and other aspirants, the market size, energy resource share and economic potential will be further enhanced.”
Pakistan has announced that the prime ministers of China and Russia, the vice president of Iran, India’s external affairs minister, along with other heads of government and representatives from multilateral organizations, will attend the regional summit.
To ensure the safety of approximately 900 delegates, stringent security measures have been implemented, with over 10,000 police, paramilitary and army personnel deployed.
Additionally, the federal government has declared public holidays in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on the two days of the summit.
No signs of thaw in India-Pakistan relations as Islamabad prepares to host SCO summit
https://arab.news/5n6xt
No signs of thaw in India-Pakistan relations as Islamabad prepares to host SCO summit
- Analysts believe high-level participation from regional states will dispel the perception of Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation
- Summit is also expected to bolster Pakistan’s economic standing, reflecting an intent to integrate into regional market
Pakistan seafood exports rise 22 percent in last six months on strong Gulf, Asia demand
- Fisheries is a vital pillar of the national maritime economy that supports livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis, particularly in coastal communities
- Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry stresses the need for strict regulatory compliance, sustainable fishing to protect marine biodiversity
KARACHI: Pakistan’s seafood exports climbed 22% over the past six months buoyed by strong demand from Gulf and Asian markets, the country’s Press Information Department said, citing official data.
KARACHI: Pakistan’s marine fisheries sector posted strong growth as its seafood exports rose to 122,629.11 metric tons, valued at $253.24 million, between July and December 2025, the Press Information Department said on Friday, citing Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.
Pakistan’s exports stood at 102,942.05 metric tons worth $208.25 million during the corresponding period of the previous year, according to the Marine Fisheries Department data. The sector recorded a year-on-year increase of 19.1% in volume and 21.6% in value.
Fisheries is a vital pillar of the national maritime economy that supports livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis, particularly in coastal communities along the Arabian Sea in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, according to the maritime affairs minister.
Historically contributing around 1% to GDP, the sector has rebounded from pandemic-era disruptions through expanded processing capacity, improved cold-chain logistics, and stricter certification aligned with international standards.
“The performance reflects the growing competitiveness of Pakistan’s marine fisheries in global markets,” Chaudhry, who noted sustained export momentum from July till December, was quoted as saying by the PID.
According to the data, frozen fish remained the leading export category, accounting for 26,669.37 metric tons valued at $53.33 million. Shrimps and prawns followed with earnings of $40.46 million, while frozen cuttlefish generated $36.13 million. Other products, including shrimp meal, crabs, sardines, mackerel, flatfish species and fish meal, also contributed to higher export receipts, underscoring diversification and growth in value-added processing.
“China retained its position as Pakistan’s largest export destination, importing more than 83,602 metric tons worth $149.2 million — nearly 59% of total seafood exports— driven by steady demand for high-quality frozen products,” PID said.
“Thailand ranked second with imports valued at $31.3 million, mainly shrimps and prawns, supported by Pakistan’s HACCP-certified (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point-certified) processing standards.”
The United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Japan followed, with rising shipments of cuttlefish and fish meal.
Chaudhry said that market diversification efforts have also expanded exports to the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Kuwait, and the United States.
Monthly export figures showed consistent growth, peaking at $56.42 million in November and $55 million in December, aided by seasonal demand and logistical improvements. Non-tax revenue from the fisheries sectors also increased to Rs127.7 million (approximately $460,000), up from Rs118 million a year earlier.
Chaudhry attributed the gains to government initiatives such as collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on sustainable fishing practices and investments in port infrastructure in Karachi and Gwadar.
“These developments signal the fisheries sector’s rising contribution to foreign exchange earnings and economic stability,” he said, stressing the need for strict regulatory compliance and sustainable fishing to protect marine biodiversity.
