The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government (CHG) Summit, held in Islamabad in October 2024, highlighted the organization’s role in promoting regional stability, economic development, and multilateral cooperation. The summit’s primary outcomes centered around enhancing regional connectivity, trade, and security, while addressing pressing global issues. One of the most significant developments was the signing of eight key agreements, aimed at improving the organization’s financial and operational structure. These agreements covered areas such as budgetary support for the SCO and strengthening the role of the SCO’s permanent bodies, particularly in counterterrorism and security operations. This reinforced the organization’s commitment to promoting peace and political stability in the region​.

The summit also endorsed China as the SCO’s chair for the 2024-2025 term, underlining Beijing’s central role in shaping the organization’s future. China’s Premier Li Qiang attended the summit, alongside other key leaders from Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and India. India’s participation, represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, was seen as a constructive engagement despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in South Asia​ Another focal point of the summit was the need to accelerate regional economic cooperation, particularly in trade, technology, and digital transformation. Leaders emphasized the importance of bolstering economic ties to ensure the region’s socio-economic progress. There were discussions on developing new formats of cooperation in education, culture, sports, and tourism, including proposals to establish an SCO Sports Organization and a Silk Road mini-football tournament​

Regional security was a critical concern. The summit acknowledged that ongoing global conflicts and climate challenges required a unified response from member states. The leaders discussed ways to strengthen mutual trust and regional security, reaffirming their commitment to the UN’s principles of peace and cooperation. This included reinforcing measures to counter terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking, which remain persistent threats to the stability of the SCO region.​ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, who chaired the summit, used the platform to advocate for greater investment in regional connectivity. He stressed the need for collective action to overcome economic and geopolitical hurdles, noting that development could not be sustained without peace and stability. His call to action was well-received, with member states expressing their readiness to collaborate more effectively on infrastructure development and trade facilitation​

One notable aspect of the summit was the emphasis on people-to-people diplomacy. The SCO Youth Council’s role was highlighted as pivotal in fostering collaboration among young leaders, further contributing to cultural and humanitarian ties within the region. This focus on building trust through interpersonal relationships between nations reflects the broader SCO strategy of enhancing cooperation at both the governmental and societal levels​. In summary, the 2024 SCO Summit in Islamabad underscored the organization’s role in fostering regional cooperation, especially in the face of global challenges. The agreements signed, and the discussions held, signal a clear intent to strengthen economic, political, and security ties within the Eurasian bloc, ensuring sustainable development and regional stability for the future.

Hosting the SCO HOGM provided Pakistan a platform to emphasize its role in regional diplomacy. The SCO, which includes major players like China, Russia, India, and Central Asian states, has become an important forum for regional cooperation. For Pakistan, the event enabled the country to elevate its diplomatic standing and emphasize its commitment to regional stability and development, a point of particular significance given its sometimes complex relationships with neighboring states, notably India. Pakistan utilized the HOGM to promote economic opportunities and regional connectivity projects, aiming to attract investments through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other avenues.

The SCO’s focus on multilateral trade and development aligns with Pakistan’s ambitions to attract foreign investment and bolster its struggling economy. The event allowed Pakistan to advocate for improved trade routes, transit agreements, and infrastructure investments that could benefit from SCO support, especially in transport and energy sectors. The HOGM in Islamabad highlighted Pakistan’s strategic relations with China and Russia, both significant members of the SCO. China has long been Pakistan’s ally, and this event helped showcase the economic ties and ongoing CPEC projects that are central to Pakistan’s growth plans. The forum also allowed Pakistan to continue building its relationship with Russia, which has deepened in recent years in both defense and energy sectors, with Pakistan exploring potential energy agreements and defense procurements from Moscow.