Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed an action plan prioritizing information technology and artificial intelligence, alongside energy, development, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports, as Pakistan formally assumes the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for 2026-2027. As part of this agenda, an SCO sovereign AI infrastructure and governance framework has also been proposed, aimed at promoting responsible and inclusive AI development so that no member state is left behind.
The proposal was outlined at the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where the chairmanship formally transitioned to Pakistan under the theme Turning Vision Into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity. The meeting was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other regional leaders, alongside representatives of non-member states and international organizations at the SCO Plus Summit.
Shehbaz Sharif also addressed regional water security during the meeting, stating that water is the lifeblood of the region, sustaining millions of lives, nourishing lands and securing the future of coming generations, while adding that water must never be weaponized or used as an instrument of political coercion. He said the treaties governing shared waters are binding commitments that must be honoured unconditionally in letter and spirit, tying the water security discussion directly into the broader chairmanship agenda alongside the technology and AI proposals.
On regional connectivity, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor continues to serve as a gateway linking regional economies to the Arabian Sea, with trans-regional railway projects, road connectivity initiatives and regional energy projects also being advanced under Pakistan’s chairmanship priorities. The next edition of the SCO Plus meeting is set to be held in Islamabad in 2027, positioning Pakistan to continue shaping the organization’s technology and connectivity agenda through its two year chairmanship term, guided by the broader Shanghai Spirit that has underpinned SCO cooperation over the past 25 years.
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