Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, while calling effective multilateralism a key to addressing regional and global challenges, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to just and peaceful resolution of outstanding and ongoing disputes, opposing unilateral and illegal use of threats or force and combating terrorism.

The prime minister, addressing the 24th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO objectives of peace and prosperity, and urged the member states to put in their collective efforts against terrorism, poverty alleviation and dispute resolution, particularly the ongoing Israeli barbarism in Palestine.

“I reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to working together to strengthen SCO as an active and integrated regional forum to achieve the common objective of peace and prosperity in line with the Shanghai spirit,” the prime minister said.

Titled “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue – Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity”, the summit is being attended by leaders from Pakistan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, India and others.

The prime minister’s address encompassed all major regional and international issues, including terrorism and extremism, Islamophobia, instability in Afghanistan, poverty, climate change, regional connectivity, and resolution of disputes.

The prime minister said that Astana held significance for Pakistan where the country had formally joined the SCO in 2017 and congratulated Belarus for being the newest member. He also felicitated Chinese President Xi Jinping on assuming the SCO chairmanship for 2024-25 and expressed confidence that under his visionary leadership, the SCO would continue to grow and prosper.

He told the international gathering that Pakistan aligned itself with socioeconomic and security objectives of the SCO as the country’s association with the Organization went back centuries.

He said during 23 years, the SCO had established itself as a credible and effective transregional organization. He said contemporary realities of globalization and interdependence necessitated “working together and joining hands for a secure, peaceful and prosperous future for our people”.

“SCO leaders have repeatedly underscored the importance of investing in connectivity in the SCO region through transport corridors and reliable supply chains… Promoting use of national currencies within SCO can help avoid international financial shock. Pakistan supports the proposal of an SCO alternate development fund mechanism to give impetus to various stalled initiatives,” he remarked.

He said during its 2025-26 term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, “Pakistan will remain committed to pursuing just and peaceful resolution of outstanding and ongoing disputes, opposing resort to unilateral and illegal use of threats or force, combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and advancing SCO agenda in partnership with member states.”

The SCO Plus format meeting was held on the sidelines of the 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Palace of Independence in the capital city of Kazakhstan.

The prime minister told the gathering that complex global and regional challenges could be best addressed through effective multilateralism within the UN framework.

He said Pakistan brought to UNSC its rich experience and expertise and strong legacy of contributions towards the maintenance of peace and security.

He congratulated President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for holding the SCO summit and expressed the hope that the Astana Declaration and other documents adopted at the event would go a long way in strengthening efforts for the objectives of peace and prosperity.

Highlighting the increased incitement to hatred and discrimination based on race and religion, in particular Islamophobia, climate-induced disasters and post-COVID 19 impacts on the countries, he said the challenges necessitated unity of thought and action, upholding the value of peaceful coexistence, resolving disputes, and reposing confidence in multilateralism.

He also drew attention to the unprecedented sufferings of Palestinian people including the killing of over 37,000 people and displacement of millions of others. He also endorsed the UNHR Council’s Commission of Inquiry report calling Israel’s acts war crimes and the International Court of Justice terming it as genocide besides calling for accountability.

“We must call upon the international community, in particular the UN Security Council, to uphold its responsibility and ensure an immediate ceasefire, free flow of humanitarian assistance, and protection of civilians in Gaza. UN must ensure the implementation of its resolutions for peaceful settlement of all long-standing disputes,” he remarked.

Highlighting the issue of climate change, the prime minister mentioned the 2022 floods in Pakistan causing an “unimaginable loss” of lives and properties despite the country’s minimal contributions to carbon omission. He said the generous financial and technological assistance to vulnerable countries would enable them to rebuild, adapt, and achieve resilience.

He also emphasised undertaking fundamental reforms in international financial architecture to make it more effective, inclusive, and equitable.

Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan would continue to strengthen multilateral institutions and enhance global cooperation to realise the common objectives of equitable and peaceful world order, respecting principles of self-determination, sovereignty, and non-interference.

Gaza war

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif took Pakistan’s clear and blunt position regarding the situation in Palestine at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and the SCO Plus Summit, stressing the international community to make Israel accountable and bring it to justice.

The prime minister, vigorously fighting the case of Gaza at the SCO and SCO Plus summits, said that Israel was involved in the genocide of Palestinians.

The International Court of Justice, he said, had also declared Israel’s heinous actions as genocide of the Palestinians.

“Israel is wreaking havoc in Gaza and committing war crimes,” the prime minister said . The international community should speed up its efforts for an immediate ceasefire and access of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Pakistan’s position was that all long-standing disputes should be resolved according to the United Nations resolutions, he added.

PM Shehbaz deplored that around 37,000 innocent people had been martyred in Palestine – most of whom were women and children, while over two million Palestinians were displaced by Israel.

“Pakistan is in favour of a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue on the lines of pre-1967 borders with the establishment of a Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital,” he added.