The SCO heads of government meeting has begun in Dushanbe, where Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is leading Pakistan’s delegation at a two-day gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s second-highest decision-making body. The meeting runs on October 19 and 20, and Pakistan, which holds the organisation’s chairmanship, is using the occasion to press for stronger regional trade and connectivity with Central Asia.
Arrival and Official Reception
Mr Dar arrived in the Tajik capital on Monday at the invitation of Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda, The News reported. He was received by Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Daler Juma, who co-chairs the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission. Pakistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan, Irfan Ahmed, and the national SCO coordinator, Khalil Hashmi, were also present.
According to the Foreign Office, the SCO Council of Heads of Government guides cooperation among member states on economic, financial, trade, connectivity and socio-economic issues, and it handles the organisation’s budget. The meeting is expected to adopt a joint communique, together with statements and decisions.
Who Is Attending the SCO Heads of Government Meeting
The prime ministers of Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan are attending, along with Uzbekistan’s prime minister, according to the Foreign Office. Iran is represented by its vice president, and India by its external affairs minister. Tajikistan is hosting the event.
Talks With Tajikistan
Mr Dar held a meeting with Mr Rasulzoda in which the two sides reviewed bilateral relations, according to a Foreign Office spokesperson. They discussed trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, culture and people-to-people exchanges, as well as climate change and water security. Mr Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s expertise in disaster management and the potential for cooperation through the National Disaster Management Authority.
The Foreign Office said the Tajik prime minister praised Pakistan’s mediation in the conflict between the United States and Iran. Mr Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to working with Tajikistan on regional peace and economic integration. He is also scheduled to call on the Tajik president and to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from other member states on the sidelines. On the sidelines of the summit, Arab News reported, he also met Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to discuss regional developments and bilateral ties.
Pakistan’s Agenda on Regional Trade and Connectivity
Islamabad sees the gathering as an opportunity to expand regional trade with Central Asian states. Arab News reported that Pakistan is seeking improved transport and transit routes and wider access to regional markets through its seaports. It is also promoting the CASA-1000 power project, which is designed to carry surplus Central Asian electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The agenda reflects a longer-standing Pakistani effort to position itself as a transit and trade corridor between the landlocked economies of Central Asia and the Arabian Sea. For Tajikistan, which depends on regional routes to reach distant markets, the proposition carries obvious appeal, although the practical obstacles, including infrastructure and regional security conditions, are considerable.
Pakistan’s SCO Chairmanship
The visit takes place against the backdrop of Pakistan’s expanding role within the organisation. According to Arab News, Pakistan took over the SCO chairmanship for 2026 to 2027 at a summit in Bishkek in September, and it will host the next Council of Heads of State summit in Islamabad next year. On October 1, Mr Dar chaired a meeting to review preparations for that summit, which he described as an opportunity to deepen engagement with member states, Dawn reported. Pakistan also chairs the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for 2025 to 2026, and it last hosted the Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad in October 2024.
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