ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday departed for Bishkek on a three-day official visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting and assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the council for 2026-27.
The prime minister will address the SCO summit and present Pakistan’s position on key regional and global issues.
He will also participate in the SCO Plus Summit and attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games as a special guest.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف تین روزہ دورے پر کرغستان کے دارالحکومت بشکیک کیلئے روانہ ہوگئے.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف شنگھائی تعاون تنظیم کے سربراہی اجلاس سے خطاب کریں گے اور مختلف علاقائی و عالمی امور پر پاکستان کا مؤقف پیش کریں گے۔ وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف ایس سی او پلس سربراہی… pic.twitter.com/jGJacR2oF8
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) August 31, 2026
The visit, from 31 August to 2 September, is taking place at the invitation of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov.
“The visit will include participation in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting, as well as bilateral engagements in the Kyrgyz Republic,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
🔊PR No.2️⃣3️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Curtain Raiser: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s Official Visit to the Kyrgyz Republic (31 August-2 September, 2026)
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) August 31, 2026
Federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Abdul Aleem Khan and Attaullah Tarar are accompanying the prime minister.
Pakistan To Assume SCO Chairmanship
During his stay in Bishkek, Mr Shehbaz will participate in the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting and the SCO Plus Summit.
“The prime minister will also assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-2027,” the Foreign Office said.
He will hold bilateral meetings with leaders attending the summit on its sidelines.
The prime minister will participate in the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on 31 August, according to the Foreign Office.
Focus On Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Ties
On 2 September, Mr Shehbaz will hold bilateral discussions with President Zhaparov on the “entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations”.
“The two sides will comprehensively review Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations and discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges,” the Foreign Office said.
“The leaders will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and cooperation at regional and multilateral fora,” it added.
The Foreign Office described relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan as “warm and fraternal”, saying they were rooted in shared history, faith and cultural affinity, as well as common aspirations for peace, connectivity and prosperity in Central and South Asia.
“The forthcoming visit will provide an important opportunity to consolidate the momentum generated by recent high-level exchanges, translate political goodwill into enhanced practical cooperation, and further strengthen the enduring partnership between Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic,” the statement said.
SCO Marks 25 Years
Around a dozen world leaders are expected in Bishkek for events marking 25 years of the SCO.
The organisation has 10 member states: India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia have observer status.
Pakistan is set to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-27, with Islamabad scheduled to host the next CHS summit.
