By Islamuddin Sajid and Aamir Latif

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan on Wednesday urged economic collaboration among Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states as a two-day leaders’ summit of the organization began in the capital Islamabad.

“Investment in regional infrastructure, particularly in the realms of transport and energy is indispensable, for advancing economic integration,” Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the opening session of the 23rd SCO meeting.

Rejecting “unilateral coercive measures, and protectionist policies,” he said they “run contrary to the principles of international law.”

Sharif underscored the importance of establishing a robust SCO connectivity framework.

“This framework should not merely boost regional trade but should also advance the vision of a connected Eurasia,” he added.

Referring to China’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the International, North-South Transport Corridor, he said these initiatives should be expanded, focusing on developing road, rail, and digital infrastructure, that enhances integration and cooperation, across the region.

Sharif extended Pakistan's support to the establishment of an SCO "alternative development funding mechanism."

He said such a mechanism could provide the impetus needed for the revival of stalled development projects.

On climate change, Sharif said that this was an “existential crisis that transcends borders and its impacts are felt universally.”

"It is imperative, that we prioritize environmental cooperation within the SCO, to build resilience and secure, a sustainable future, for generations to come," the Pakistani prime minister said.

Sharif also called on the international community to take a step forward with urgent humanitarian support to Afghanistan.

He also called on the Afghan interim government to embrace political inclusivity and to ensure that Afghan soil “is not misused for terrorism against its neighbors.”

Earlier, the summit of government leaders from SCO member states kicked off in Islamabad, with premiers and senior officials from 12 countries in attendance.

Among the participants are Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Akylbek Zhaparov, Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda and Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Iranian Mining and Trade Minister Seyyed Mohammad Atabek are also attending the summit.

Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai is attending the summit as an observer member, while Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov is also attending the summit as a special guest.

To ensure security for the summit, Pakistan has undertaken extensive safety measures with the capital under security lockdown, and approximately 10,000 security personnel have been deployed across Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi.

Founded in 2001 in Shanghai, the SCO originally comprised six countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus this year.

The organization also includes two observer states, Afghanistan and Mongolia, and 14 dialogue partners, including Türkiye.