Pakistan becomes full member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization

According to details, Pakistan became a member of the organization after Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz signed the Memorandum of Obligations (MoOs) at the Heads of State Summit at Tashkent with the foreign ministers of six SCO member states and the secretary general of the organization.

Foreign Office (FO) stated that the country was an Observer at the organization since 2005 and a regular participant in the meetings of the SCO. It was also the first SCO Observer to apply for full membership in 2010.

“Pakistan’s request for membership was approved in principle by the Heads of State Summit held in Ufa Russia in July 2015. The Heads of State Council had “agreed to launch the procedure” of accepting Pakistan as a member state of SCO with the consensus of all the founding members,” FO stated.

Foreign Office stated that SCO is important for Pakistan as it will allow the country to emphasize its interest in regional peace, stability and development along with its support for regional cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

FO also stated that SCO will provide a platform for the country to forge closer ties with China, Russia and other members of the grouping. It will also allow the country to explore greater economic linkages and cooperation with Central Asian countries in the areas of energy and transport.

SCO will help Pakistan participate actively in the SCO’s socio-economic activities and institutions like SCO Development Bank and SCO University and promote CPEC as the lynch pin for connectivity and economic cooperation in the region, FO stated.