BISHKEK -UNS : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Pakistan remained committed to lasting regional peace and stressed that water could not be used for political purposes or as a tool of pressure.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek, the prime minister described the gathering as “historic” and said it was an honour for him to participate in the summit.He thanked Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Japarov and his team for their hospitality and arrangements for the summit, while congratulating Kyrgyzstan on successfully completing its SCO chairmanship and contributing to practical cooperation among member states.
He described Pakistan as an active and responsible member of the SCO and said the international landscape was facing growing geopolitical tensions.
The prime minister said Pakistan had played an effective role in promoting peace during recent regional crises. He added that Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts had contributed to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he described as an important step towards reducing regional tensions.
PM Shehbaz described terrorism as one of the most serious threats facing the region and highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against militancy.He said more than 90,000 Pakistanis had lost their lives in the war against terrorism, while the country had suffered economic losses exceeding $150 billion.
The prime minister stressed that Afghan territory must not be allowed to be used by terrorists against Pakistan.He said Pakistan wanted to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, adding that lasting regional peace was essential for economic development.
PM Shehbaz said regional connectivity was no longer a choice but a strategic necessity.The prime minister also raised the issue of water, describing it as vital to the region’s survival and the future of coming generations.
He said using water for political purposes or as a tool of pressure was unacceptable and called for full implementation of international agreements in both letter and spirit.He highlighted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an important link connecting regional economies with the Arabian Sea and said Pakistan remained committed to expanding regional rail, road and energy projects.
The prime minister noted that more than three billion people lived across SCO member states, creating enormous potential for trade, investment and economic cooperation.He called for implementation of the SCO Development Strategy 2035 and said the establishment of an SCO development bank could prove to be an important step towards strengthening regional economic cooperation.Pakistan, he added, would continue contributing to poverty alleviation and the promotion of social protection.
