Pakistan to Lead SCO as Regional Powers Back Leadership

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is all set to become the new Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this September, an event that will usher in a paradigm shift for Islamabad in the international community. Taking over from Uzbekistan for the coming year, Islamabad is set to play a key role in steering the SCO in the right direction. It will indeed be a turning point for Pakistan as far as Eurasian politics are concerned.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar frames this leadership role as a testament to Pakistan’s diplomatic evolution. Since joining as a full member in 2017, the nation has moved well beyond a mere observer’s seat. Now, as the incoming chair, Islamabad aims to drive an agenda that emphasizes tangible action. Dar intends to move past standard rhetoric, focusing instead on concrete economic integration and improved regional connectivity.

The foreign ministry signals a clear departure from passive participation. Pakistan now actively shapes the group's internal mechanisms, particularly by leading the working group on poverty alleviation. By prioritizing the improvement of living standards, Islamabad bridges the gap between high-level diplomatic summitry and the actual needs of citizens across the ten member states.

From Security to Economic Integration

While the SCO’s origins lie in security cooperation, the bloc currently demands a sharper focus on trade and development. The CPEC has been presented by the government of Pakistan as an effective example in this regard. Through highlighting its successes in trade and energy, Islamabad is encouraging other member states to develop a similar approach to integrating their regions through such corridors.

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In addition, the current chairmanship of Pakistan in the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) from 2025 to 2026 demonstrates the country’s ability to balance its policies. While addressing the “three evils” of terrorism, extremism, and separatism on one hand, on the other hand, it is also focusing on technology and currency to eliminate financial barriers within the region.

The Agenda in Bishkek

As the team gears up for the upcoming CHS summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, there is an apparent roadmap ahead. The Pakistani administration aims to develop a sense of social solidarity that goes beyond mere administrative cooperation.

Given the presence of member countries from the likes of China, Russia, Iran, and India, the SCO is a highly complicated geopolitical jigsaw puzzle that Pakistan needs to piece together in order to develop a prosperous future. As the world watches in September, the true measure of this chairmanship will depend on how effectively Pakistan translates its ambitious diplomatic goals into long-term stability for the entire Eurasian corridor.