Pakistan assumes SCO Chairmanship for 2027

Pakistan has formally taken over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for the coming year, Mettis Global reported. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X that the country's period in the role will be shaped by a theme centred on connectivity, innovation and shared prosperity.

His remarks came after he addressed the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting in Bishkek, where he also congratulated the Kyrgyz Republic on hosting the summit and running the grouping well during its term. He said the SCO has grown into an important forum for regional cooperation over 25 years, a development rooted in the Shanghai Spirit.

On water, he warned that it is the lifeblood of the region and must never be turned into a weapon, adding that accords on shared rivers should be respected fully in form and substance. He voiced confidence that the bloc would keep advancing and bring real benefits to over three billion residents.