{
  "id": 4817961,
  "title": "PM Shehbaz calls for SCO unity, peace and connectivity amid global challenges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/pm-shehbaz-calls-for-sco-unity-peace-and-connectivity-amid-global",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-01T08:12:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40437394/pm-shehbaz-calls-for-sco-unity-peace-and-connectivity-amid-global-challenges"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, calling for increased cooperation, connectivity and peaceful dispute resolution among its member states. Pakistan, celebrating 25 years of SCO membership, expressed pride in its role within the organization. The prime minister commended Kyrgyzstan's successful SCO chairmanship and felicitated the leadership and people of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on their respective Independence Days. With the global landscape facing intensifying geopolitical tensions, fragmentation of the economy, climate crisis, and technological transformation, the SCO serves as a collective resolve for its members to tackle these challenges together, ensuring peace, security and prosperity for their peoples. Pakistan remains committed to UN and SCO principles, advocating peaceful dispute resolution. The country has advocated for peace when a member state's sovereignty was violated earlier this year, helping sign the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and facilitating regional de-escalation. The prime minister expressed gratitude for support from friendly countries and highlighted Pakistan's recently signed trilateral Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, emphasizing its defensive nature. Prime Minister Shehbaz addressed the ongoing suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, urging the international community to fulfill its commitment to the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. He stressed the importance of lasting peace in South Asia, warning against the weaponization of shared water resources and pledging to honor water treaties unconditionally. Terrorism remains a grave threat, and Pakistan has sacrificed over 90,000 lives and suffered $150 billion in economic losses in its fight against terrorism. The prime minister reiterated Pakistan's desire for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, emphasizing that terrorists using Afghan territory to harm Pakistanis and others prevent lasting peace. Connectivity is now a strategic imperative, with the SCO Development Strategy until 2035 and the establishment of an SCO Development Bank being crucial steps. Pakistan's SCO chairmanship will prioritize information technology, artificial intelligence, and regional infrastructure projects.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called for greater cooperation, connectivity and peaceful resolution of disputes among Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, saying the bloc must choose “cooperation over confrontation” amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges. Addressing the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, the prime minister said Pakistan took…",
  "key_points": [
    "Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calls for SCO unity and connectivity amid global challenges",
    "Pakistan celebrates 25 years of SCO membership, praises Kyrgyzstan's chairmanship",
    "Addressing terrorism, Pakistan vows to honor water treaties unconditionally"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}