Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged SCO members to respect transboundary water agreements while outlining Pakistan’s priorities for regional peace, connectivity and shared prosperity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned against using shared water resources as a tool of political pressure, calling for strict compliance with international agreements governing transboundary waters.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday, Shehbaz described water as the “lifeblood” of the region and said shared resources were too important to be turned into instruments of political leverage.
The prime minister said international agreements governing transboundary waters were binding commitments and must be implemented in both letter and spirit. Pakistan, he added, remained committed to peaceful dispute resolution, international law and the principles enshrined in the charters of the United Nations and the SCO.
Shehbaz said the SCO had an important role in helping member states address regional challenges collectively and promote peace, stability and economic prosperity.
Pakistan highlights diplomatic efforts
The prime minister said Pakistan had consistently advocated peace whenever regional stability was threatened.
He said a recent crisis had disrupted important energy supply routes and created economic difficulties for countries worldwide, including Pakistan. Shehbaz said Islamabad had acted as a sincere mediator and facilitator, with its diplomatic efforts contributing to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
He described the agreement as an important step toward reducing tensions and restoring lasting peace, while thanking countries that supported Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives.
Mecca defence agreement called defensive
Referring to Pakistan’s recently signed Trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, Shehbaz said the pact was defensive in nature.
He stressed that the agreement was not directed against any particular country and was not intended to create confrontation or division.
Pakistan calls for support for Palestinians
Addressing the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, Shehbaz expressed concern over the continuing suffering of Palestinians.
He urged the international community to fulfil its responsibility toward the Palestinian people and support their fundamental right to self-determination.
Shehbaz highlights terrorism threat
The prime minister described terrorism as one of the biggest threats facing the region and highlighted Pakistan’s role in strengthening counterterrorism cooperation while chairing the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure.
He said Pakistan had lost more than 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion during more than two decades of fighting terrorism. These sacrifices, he said, were made not only for Pakistan but also for broader regional and international security.
On Afghanistan, Shehbaz said Pakistan wanted a peaceful, stable and prosperous neighbour. However, he warned that lasting regional peace would remain difficult if militant groups continued using Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan and other countries.
He called for concrete action to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism.
Pakistan unveils SCO priorities
Shehbaz said the SCO represented a region of more than three billion people with vast natural resources. He stressed that regional connectivity had become a strategic necessity and called for stronger transport networks, reliable energy corridors and resilient supply chains to expand trade and economic cooperation.
He backed implementation of the SCO Development Strategy through 2035 and described the proposed SCO Development Bank as an important step toward meeting the bloc’s development goals.
As Pakistan assumes the SCO chairmanship, Shehbaz announced priorities covering information technology, artificial intelligence, energy, poverty reduction, disaster management, healthcare, culture and sports.
Pakistan has also proposed an SCO-wide sovereign AI infrastructure and governance framework aimed at supporting responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence development.
Shehbaz said Pakistan would lead the organisation under the theme: “Turning Vision into Action, Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”
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