PM Shehbaz leaves for Kyrgyzstan to attend SCO summit

Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has embarked on a three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from August 31 to September 2, on the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov.

According to the Foreign Office (FO), the visit will centre on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting, alongside a number of bilateral engagements.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف تین روزہ دورے پر کرغستان کے دارالحکومت بشکیک کیلئے روانہ ہوگئے.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف شنگھائی تعاون تنظیم کے سربراہی اجلاس سے خطاب کریں گے اور مختلف علاقائی و عالمی امور پر پاکستان کا مؤقف پیش کریں گے۔ وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف ایس سی او پلس سربراہی… pic.twitter.com/jGJacR2oF8

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 31, 2026

The prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials.

“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.

Pakistan is also set to take charge of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026-27 term during the prime minister’s visit.

The FO said that PM Shehbaz would also hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of the participating countries on the sidelines.

The premier is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games in Bishkek on August 31.

The FO statement further said that PM Shehbaz will hold formal talks with President Zhaparov on September 2, with discussions covering 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 two leaders will exchange views on developments at the regional and international levels, as well as cooperation through regional and multilateral institutions.

The FO described the relationship between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan as close and cordial, highlighting their shared historical, religious and cultural links and their common goals of peace, connectivity and economic prosperity across Central and South Asia.

The FO said the visit would help build upon recent high-level diplomatic exchanges and create opportunities for turning political understanding into stronger cooperation between the two countries.

“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.

Bishkek is likely to receive a dozen international leaders as the SCO marks 25 years since its establishment.

The bloc has 10 member countries — India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — while Afghanistan and Mongolia have observer status.

Pakistan will formally take over the SCO Council of Heads of State chairmanship, with Islamabad also scheduled to host the organisation’s next Council of Heads of State summit in 2027.