PM Shehbaz leaves for three-day visit to Kyrgyzstan for SCO summit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from Aug 31 to Sept 2 at the invitation of President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting.

In a post on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced the premier’s departure. It said PM Shehbaz would address the SCO summit and “present Pakistan’s stance on various regional and global issues”.

It added that Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister of Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar were accompanying the prime minister.

Earlier in the day, the Foreign Office had issued a statement on PM Shehbaz’s visit, saying that it would include participation in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting, as well as bilateral engagements in the Kyrgyz Republic.

“During his stay in Bishkek, the prime minister will participate in the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State and the SCO Plus Summit,” the statement said.

“The prime minister will also assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-2027,” it said, adding that he would also hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of the participating countries on the sidelines.

PM Shehbaz will also participate in the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on Aug 31, the statement said.

It added that on Sept 2, the prime minister would hold bilateral discussions with the Kyrgyz president on the “entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations”.

“The two sides will comprehensively review Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges,” it said.

“The leaders will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and cooperation at regional and multilateral fora,” it added.

“Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan enjoy warm and fraternal relations, rooted in shared history, faith and cultural affinity, as well as common aspirations for peace, connectivity and prosperity in Central and South Asia,” the FO said.

“The forthcoming visit will provide an important opportunity to consolidate the momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, translate political goodwill into enhanced practical cooperation, and further strengthen the enduring partnership between Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic,” the statement concluded.

Around a dozen world leaders will head to Bishkek to mark 25 years of the SCO, which comprises 10 member states: India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The two observer states are Afghanistan and Mongolia.

Pakistan is set to assume the chairmanship of the SCO’s Council of Heads of State, while next year’s CHS summit will also be hosted by Islamabad.