PM Shehbaz Urges Expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative at SCO Summit, Calls for Enhanced Regional Connectivity

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to expand China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) while chairing the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The SCO, which includes China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, also has 16 additional countries associated as observers or dialogue partners. Pakistan became a full member of the SCO during the 2017 summit in Kazakhstan, which was attended by former PM Nawaz Sharif. Recently, Nawaz Sharif expressed hope for reviving ties with India.

As the current Chair of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG), PM Shehbaz led the 23rd meeting, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. In his address, he highlighted the importance of key projects like China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (now in its second phase), and the international north-south transport corridor. He called for expanding these projects, particularly in road, rail, and digital infrastructure development.

PM Shehbaz urged that these initiatives should be viewed beyond political considerations, focusing on collective regional connectivity to advance the shared vision of economic integration across the region. He also stressed that the SCO’s connectivity framework should enhance regional trade and contribute to the vision of a connected Eurasia.

The prime minister emphasized that economic collaboration is central to SCO’s mission, and regional infrastructure investment is critical for promoting economic integration. He also called on SCO members to support a strategy for Energy Cooperation 2030 and to establish an Association of Investors. Prior to the summit, PM Shehbaz welcomed the leaders of SCO member states and posed for photographs with each of them.