ISLAMABAD - Pakistan yesterday urged for developing greater connectivity amongst the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to unlock regional geo-economic potential.  

Addressing a meeting of the Council of SCO Foreign Ministers in Dushanbe, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is the flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative, supplements SCO’s vision of regional connectivity and economic integration.

He said the SCO needed to focus on collective economic development that intertwines with our national Sustainable Development Goals. Our agencies dealing with achieving Sustainable Development Goals must meet at least once a year and share experiences and best practices in a spirit of cooperation and shared progress.

“We need to create the necessary linkages between CEOs and entrepreneurs of SCO member states to promote business partnerships. The empowerment of women in different walks of life is a shared objective within SCO. Contributing towards this goal, he said SCO Women Entrepreneurs Forum be established,” he said.

On Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan stands ready to working with SCO member states in reinforcing efforts for sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan has played its part in facilitating the peace process aimed at forging a comprehensive, broad based and inclusive, negotiated political solution that is Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.

He said the unfolding situation in the wake of withdrawal of US and NATO troops and in the absence of a peace deal is a matter of serious concern. “The rise in violence in recent weeks has exacerbated an already volatile situation. A spectre of chaos and escalated conflict looms large that would also give space to the ‘spoilers’ who wish to see the reign of instability in Afghanistan and the region. He said we call upon all Afghan parties to engage constructively and work for a negotiated political solution,” he added.

He emphasized the need for addressing root causes of terrorism and extremism.

Regarding challenges posed by COVID-19, FM Qureshi called for collective efforts to combat the wide ranging effects of the pandemic.

Qureshi led the Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 13-14 July 2021.

Under the chairmanship of the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Foreign Ministers of SCO member states took a comprehensive view of the development of SCO in its twentieth anniversary year. They deliberated upon important regional and international issues and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between SCO member states across diverse areas including security, trade and economy, energy, industry, food security, culture, health, environment, transport links and connectivity.

The Dushanbe SCO-CFM endorsed several important documents that will be submitted to SCO Heads of States at their annual summit meeting in September 2021.

Marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of SCO, the Foreign Minister, in his statement, commended the work carried out in the last two decades that had made SCO a globally recognized and influential multilateral platform.

He highlighted the formidable collective political and economic potential of SCO and emphasised that the key to unlock the geo-economic potential of this region lies in developing greater connectivity and transport links through air, road and sea between its member states.

While emphasizing the importance of joint efforts for maintenance of international peace and security, the Foreign Minister underscored concern at the indiscriminate use of force in complete disregard to international humanitarian laws and unilateral approach to solve longstanding international disputes.

The Foreign Minister also called for greater people to people contacts in order to strengthen ties between member states for the achievement of a shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous and inter connected SCO region.

Towards this end, he proposed creation of mechanisms that would bring together businessmen, entrepreneurs and parliamentarians to connect; exchange experiences and forge lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships.

On the sidelines of the SCO-CFM, the Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO countries including Tajikistan, China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister also represented Pakistan in the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group meeting which deliberated upon the unfolding situation in Afghanistan and its potential impact on regional peace and security.

Following the Contact Group meeting, a joint statement was adopted which sets out the shared view of SCO on stability and security of Afghanistan and the commitment of SCO member states to assist Afghanistan in its socio-economic recovery and re-construction.

The joint statement ‘commended’ the longstanding hospitality given to Afghan refugees by neighbouring and regional countries and called for efforts by the international community for their “dignified, safe and sustainable return to their homeland”.

Since becoming a member in 2017, Pakistan has made an effective contribution and cooperated constructively towards achieving SCO’s multi-sectoral agenda through various SCO mechanisms.

SCO remains an important forum for further enhancement of our deep rooted historical and cultural links with member states, providing these ties a sound economic foundation, and promoting Pakistan as a regional trade and transit corridor.