ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host the first meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of National Coordinators (CNC) in Islamabad from September 28 to 30, marking the first major engagement under its chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27.
The meeting would be chaired by the National Coordinator of the SCO for Pakistan and attended by National Coordinators from SCO Member States, along with representatives of the SCO Secretariat, the Foreign Office said in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The National Coordinators would discuss a wide range of issues relating to SCO cooperation and coordination, including the programme of activities under Pakistan’s Chairmanship, preparations for upcoming SCO meetings and events, and other matters on the agenda of the Organisation,” it said.
As the chair of the SCO CHS for 2026-27, Islamabad would seek to advance the group’s objectives under the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity”.
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Curtain Raiser: First Meeting of SCO Council of National Coordinators, Islamabad (28-30 September 2026)
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 27, 2026
“Pakistan’s chairmanship would focus on promoting greater connectivity, fostering innovation, enhancing economic cooperation, and strengthening people-to-people contacts, with a view to translating the shared vision of member states into practical and mutually beneficial initiatives,” FO noted.
It added that Islamabad would work closely with all member states and the SCO Secretariat to “advance these priorities and further strengthen cooperation within the SCO”.
“The meeting marks an important initial engagement under Pakistan’s chairmanship and would contribute to preparations for various high-level engagements and activities to be undertaken during the chairmanship, including the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State to be hosted by Pakistan in August 2027.”
Pakistan assumes SCO chairmanship in Sept
Pakistan assumed the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) for 2027 during the organisation’s annual summit in Kyrgyzstan in September.
Speaking at the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed an “excellent plan” focusing on key areas including information technology and artificial intelligence, energy development, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports.
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He called for translating the SCO’s vision into action and its commitments into tangible progress, while advocating greater regional connectivity.
Collectively, the bloc represents around 40 percent of the world’s population and accounts for a substantial share of global economic output, making it one of the largest regional organisations by geographic coverage and population.
Since becoming a full member in 2017, Pakistan has steadily strengthened its engagement within the organisation. It successfully hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting in Islamabad in 2024 and is currently holding the chairmanship of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for 2025-26.
Pakistan has also played an active role within the organisation, including hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October 2024. The country is currently chairing the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for the 2025-26 term.
