Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, the prime minister said the use of water for political purposes or as a tool of pressure was unacceptable.
Shehbaz Sharif said it was an honour for him to attend the historic summit, describing the SCO as an important platform for global peace and stability. He also highlighted the completion of 25 years of the organisation as a significant milestone.
He said Pakistan was an active and responsible member of the SCO and that the international environment was facing growing geopolitical tensions. According to him, the SCO represents a collective commitment to addressing shared challenges.
The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan believes in the peaceful resolution of disputes and respect for international law.
Shehbaz said Pakistan had played an effective role in promoting peace during recent regional crises. He added that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts had led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he described as an important step towards reducing tensions in the region.
The prime minister said Pakistan supports strengthening the multilateral system and stressed that international institutions must turn declarations into practical action.
Referring to the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, Shehbaz Sharif said the humanitarian crisis had caused unimaginable suffering and urged the international community to respect the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
He said South Asia could not achieve its full potential without sustainable peace.
“Water is the lifeline of our region and a guarantee for the future of coming generations,” the prime minister said, adding that using water for political purposes or as a tool of pressure was unacceptable.
Shehbaz also stressed the need for full implementation of international agreements according to their spirit and wording. He clarified that the Makkah Agreement was not directed against any country.
The prime minister identified terrorism as one of the most serious threats facing the region. He said Pakistan had lost more than 90,000 lives in the fight against terrorism and suffered economic losses of more than $150 billion.
He said terrorist groups could not be allowed to use Afghan territory against Pakistan. Shehbaz added that Pakistan wanted a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
The prime minister said the SCO region was home to more than three billion people and stressed that regional connectivity was no longer a choice but a strategic necessity.
He described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an important link connecting regional economies with the Arabian Sea and said Pakistan remained committed to promoting regional rail, road and energy projects.
Shehbaz Sharif also called for the implementation of the SCO Development Strategy 2035, saying the establishment of an SCO development bank could prove to be an important step.
He said Pakistan would continue contributing to poverty reduction and the promotion of social protection.
The prime minister said Pakistan’s priorities during its SCO chairmanship would also include energy, information technology, health, culture and sports. Pakistan would also propose a framework for artificial intelligence infrastructure and governance within the SCO.
On the sidelines of the summit in Bishkek, Shehbaz Sharif held informal meetings with several world leaders to discuss important regional, global and bilateral issues.
He met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while also holding meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The prime minister also met the presidents of Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan.
