Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Bishkek on Monday for a three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, where he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State meeting and hold discussions with regional leaders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz is visiting Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 2 at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev welcomed the Pakistani prime minister upon his arrival at Manas International Airport.
Pakistan to assume SCO chairmanship
During his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz will participate in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting as well as the SCO Plus Summit.
He is also expected to assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27, marking an important development in Pakistan’s engagement with the regional organisation.
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Pakistan is also set to host next year’s SCO Council of Heads of State summit.
The prime minister is expected to address the summit and present Pakistan’s position on a range of regional and international issues.
Meanwhile, he will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of participating countries on the sidelines of the SCO engagements.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar are accompanying the prime minister during the visit.
World Nomad Games and bilateral talks
According to the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz will also attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on August 31.
On September 2, he will hold bilateral discussions with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov covering the full range of relations between Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
The two leaders are expected to review existing cooperation and discuss ways to strengthen ties in trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
In addition, they will exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and cooperation at regional and multilateral forums.
Strengthening Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations
The Foreign Office said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan enjoy warm and fraternal relations based on shared history, faith and cultural affinity, as well as common aspirations for peace, connectivity and prosperity across Central and South Asia.
It said the visit would provide an opportunity to build on momentum created by recent high-level exchanges and translate political goodwill into greater practical cooperation.
Around a dozen world leaders are expected to gather in Bishkek as the SCO marks 25 years since its establishment.
The organisation currently comprises 10 member states: China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia hold observer status.
Pakistan’s assumption of the SCO chairmanship is expected to place Islamabad at the centre of the organisation’s activities over the coming year as preparations begin for the next Council of Heads of State summit.
