SCO National Coordinators Meet in Islamabad as Pakistan Begins 2026–27 Chairmanship
National coordinators of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Islamabad for a three-day meeting from September 28 to 30, marking the first meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators under Pakistan’s 2026–27 chairmanship. The meeting is focused on coordinating the organisation’s activities, preparing upcoming high-level meetings and setting the agenda for Pakistan’s year in the chair.
The meeting brings together national coordinators from SCO member states along with representatives of the organisation’s secretariat. Pakistan’s national coordinator is chairing the discussions, which cover the programme of activities planned during Pakistan’s chairmanship as well as preparations for forthcoming SCO meetings and events.
India is participating in the Islamabad discussions, with its delegation led by Alok Dimri, the Ministry of External Affairs’ Additional Secretary for Multilateral Economic Relations and India’s SCO national coordinator. Indian participation comes despite continuing strains in India-Pakistan bilateral relations, highlighting the separate multilateral channel provided by the SCO.
Pakistan assumed the SCO Council of Heads of State chairmanship from Kyrgyzstan on September 1, beginning its 2026–27 term. Islamabad has adopted the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity” and says its priorities include stronger regional connectivity, innovation, economic cooperation and people-to-people links.
The Islamabad meeting is also an early stage in preparations for the SCO Council of Heads of State summit that Pakistan is scheduled to host in August 2027. The national coordinators’ work will help establish the calendar and organisational framework for ministerial meetings, working groups and other activities leading up to the leaders’ summit.
Pakistan has indicated that its chairmanship will seek to translate broad SCO objectives into practical initiatives. Islamabad has identified areas including information technology and artificial intelligence, energy development, poverty reduction, disaster management, health, culture and sports as potential areas of cooperation during its term.
Preparations for the 2027 summit have already begun in Islamabad. The Capital Development Authority has invited bids for improvements to the Jinnah Convention Centre and construction of an additional block, while authorities are also working to ensure sufficient internationally standard hotel accommodation for visiting delegations.
The meeting takes place as Pakistan seeks to use its SCO chairmanship to deepen regional economic and connectivity initiatives. At the same time, the presence of India, China, Russia, Iran and Central Asian members gives the gathering a wider regional significance, particularly because the SCO provides a forum where member states can continue institutional cooperation even when bilateral relationships are difficult.
For India, participation also maintains its engagement with the SCO’s wider economic, security and regional-cooperation mechanisms. New Delhi has continued attending SCO meetings hosted by Pakistan, and the Islamabad gathering represents the latest such engagement as both countries participate in the same multilateral framework.
The national coordinators’ meeting is scheduled to conclude on September 30. Its immediate focus is organisational and preparatory, but the outcomes will help shape Pakistan’s year-long SCO programme and the road toward the August 2027 heads-of-state summit in Islamabad.
