As Pakistan gears up to host the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Head of Government meeting, the event holds immense geopolitical significance for both the country and the broader South Asian region.

The SCO, a multilateral organisation founded to foster cooperation on security, economic, and political fronts among its member states, has evolved to address issues ranging from trade and counterterrorism to infrastructure development. For Pakistan, this meeting represents a unique diplomatic opportunity — one that comes at a pivotal moment in regional and global realignments.

With global powers reassessing their alliances and the rise of Asia as an economic and political centre, Pak­istan’s role as a member of the SCO places it at a crossroads of strategic influence. The increasing prominence of China, Russia’s pivot towards Asia, and the growing importance of Central Asia offer Pakistan a renewed opportunity to assert itself on the world stage.

Pakistan’s strategic location has long been seen as a geopolitical asset, but domestic challenges have often prevented it from fully leveraging this position. Now, through active participation in multilateral platforms like the SCO, Pakistan can secure both economic benefits and diplomatic capital.

The summit can act as a symbolic measure at reducing regional tensions while encouraging trade and cooperation

Pakistan’s dire economic situation — marked by rising inflation, dwindling........

© Dawn Business