ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing regional cooperation through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) while also representing the country as a founding member of the newly established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO).
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s support for the SCO’s objectives during a meeting in Islamabad with SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev. According to the Foreign Office (FO), the two sides held a productive exchange on the organisation’s priorities and discussed strengthening cooperation in economic development, transport, connectivity, and regional affairs.
The SCO secretary general praised Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace, stability, and cooperation, and briefed Dar on preparations for the upcoming SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work closely with all member states as the country prepares to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State in September. Pakistan is also scheduled to host the SCO Summit in 2027.
Pakistan’s priorities during its chairmanship will focus on enhancing economic cooperation, improving regional connectivity, and expanding collaboration among SCO member states. The country has remained actively engaged within the organisation, having hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in October 2024. It currently chairs the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for the 2025–26 term and serves as the permanent chair of the SCO Working Group on Poverty Alleviation.
Meanwhile, Dar departed for Shanghai on Wednesday for a two-day visit to attend the signing ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
According to the FO, Dar will sign the agreement establishing WAICO on behalf of Pakistan, making the country a founding member of the new international organisation. He will also participate in the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dar is expected to hold bilateral talks with Wang Yi and meet other senior officials to discuss matters of mutual interest.
The FO said Pakistan will use the platform to advocate stronger international cooperation in artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on the priorities of developing countries. Dar is expected to stress the importance of bridging the global AI divide, expanding equitable access to AI technologies, strengthening capacity-building, and ensuring that artificial intelligence contributes to sustainable development and shared prosperity.
Pakistan had endorsed China’s proposal to establish WAICO during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China in May this year, pledging to work with Beijing on advancing global AI governance and international cooperation in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
