Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to leave for Kyrgyzstan on Monday for a three-day official visit focused on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and strengthening bilateral ties, the Foreign Office said.
The visit, scheduled from August 31 to September 2, comes at a time when Pakistan is seeking to deepen economic and regional cooperation with Central Asian countries. During his stay, the prime minister will participate in SCO-related engagements in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, as well as hold bilateral meetings with leaders of participating countries.
PM to assume Pakistan’s SCO chairmanship
According to the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz will participate in the SCO Plus Summit and assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27.
The chairmanship will give Pakistan an opportunity to play a more active role in discussions involving regional cooperation, connectivity, trade and broader economic engagement among SCO member states.
The prime minister is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on August 31.
High-level delegation to accompany premier
PM Shehbaz will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and senior government officials.
During the SCO engagements, the prime minister is expected to meet leaders from participating countries on the sidelines of the summit. These meetings are expected to provide an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations as well as broader regional and international issues of mutual interest.
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Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan to discuss trade and investment
On September 2, Prime Minister Shehbaz will hold formal bilateral talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov.
The Foreign Office said the two sides will conduct a comprehensive review of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and explore ways to expand cooperation in several areas.
These include trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and international developments and cooperation through regional and multilateral platforms.
Focus on stronger regional connectivity
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan maintain what the Foreign Office describes as warm and fraternal relations, supported by shared historical, cultural and religious links and common interests in peace, connectivity and economic development.
For Islamabad, stronger engagement with Central Asian states is also important from a regional connectivity perspective. Greater trade and transport links could help create additional opportunities for economic cooperation between Pakistan and landlocked Central Asian countries.
The Foreign Office said the prime minister’s visit would help build on recent high-level exchanges between the two countries, turn political goodwill into practical cooperation and further strengthen the long-standing partnership between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
