By Adnan Hameed TWA ______ The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is underway at the Jinnah Convention Center. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is presiding over the meeting, in his opening remarks welcomed the delegates. He said this meeting is another testament to the strength of our ties and collaboration among the diverse nations. He emphasized that SCO has the potential to drive socio-economic progress, enhance regional peace and stability and to improve the quality of life for its citizens. The Prime Minister stressed this opportunity should be used to exchange ideas, share best practices and forge concrete action plans that will benefit our economies and our societies. Shehbaz Sharif expressed the optimism for wonderful outcomes that will hopefully emerge from today's valuable discussion and in-depth deliberations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called upon the SCO members to work together for a well-connected, integrated and prosperous region. He said that Pakistan supports all SCO connectivity initiatives. He underscored the importance of the establishment of a robust SCO connectivity framework which should not merely boost regional trade but also advance the vision of connected Euro-Asia. He said that projects such as Belt and Road Initiative and the International North South Transport Corridor should be expanded focusing on developing road, rail and digital infrastructure. He said we should not look at such projects through the narrow political prism and invest in our collective connectivity capacities which are crucial to advancing the shared vision of an economically integrated region. The Prime Minister said Pakistan welcomes the decisions to ensure and endorse the strategy for the development of energy cooperation 2030 and the establishment of Association of Investors. He said Pakistan stands ready to play its part in realizing the lofty ambitions. Highlighting the importance of a stable Afghanistan, he said it is not only desirable but essential to fully realizing the great opportunities. He urged the international community to step forward with urgent humanitarian support for Afghanistan. He also called upon Afghan interim government to ensure that their soil is not misused for terrorism against its neighbors by any entity. The Prime Minister called for closer collaboration for poverty alleviation in the SCO region. He said the member countries should continue to provide the required impetus to collective efforts to address the root causes of poverty and uplift the quality of life for our peoples. Touching upon the threat posed by climate change, Shehbaz Sharif said that this existential crisis transcends borders. He pointed out that Pakistan is on the frontline of climate induced disasters. Referring to the devastation caused by 2022 floods in Pakistan, the Prime Minister called for prioritizing environmental cooperation within the SCO to build resilience and secure a sustainable future for generations to come. He said Pakistan welcomes the recent SCO agreement on environmental protection and calls upon all member states to actively engage in both regional and global environmental efforts. He said Pakistan looks forward to organizing simulation exercises with SCO partners to bolster disaster preparedness across the region. Talking about financial challenges, Shehbaz Sharif said reforming the global financial architecture and trade regimes is essential to fostering development. He said Pakistan supports the establishment of an SCO alternative development funding mechanism, which could provide the impetus needed for the revival of stalled development projects. He also welcomed the timely decision by the SCO Council of Heads of States to establish financial support mechanism for project implementation within the SCO framework. The Prime Minister further urged the SCO states to encourage their private sectors to cultivate an environment that is conducive to do business and investment within the SCO region. He commended Pakistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry for its collaborative efforts with SCO Ministers in Islamabad, facilitating productive dialogues that strengthen economic ties. He said such initiatives must be nurtured to deepen economic cooperation and drive regional prosperity. Shehbaz Sharif said the growing consensus among member states on the use of mutual currencies for settlements is a promising development. He said the SCO-Interbank Union is an appropriate forum to address banking challenges and moving towards settlement in mutual currencies will shield us from global financial disruptions. The Prime Minister said the SCO Consortium of Economic Analytic Think Tanks also serves as a key platform for scholars to adopt economic and trade dynamics. As chair, Pakistan has spearheaded valuable research this year, which has been shared with member states for collective benefits. Concluding the speech, the Prime Minister said Pakistan firmly believes that a stronger and more effective SCO is essential to achieving sustainable development in the region. He said Pakistan wholeheartedly endorses the ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing this organization, enhancing the resources and capabilities of the SCO Secretariat and the regional anti-terrorism structure. He, however, said that one should not forget the true essence of the SCO that extends beyond political alliances and economic partnerships. He said it is the rich mosaic of our cultures and the diversity of our people that forms the heart of this organization. Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan remains deeply committed to fostering people to people ties and cultural exchanges that bridge divides and promote harmony, cultivate understanding and deepen cooperation. He said in unity and with shared purposes; we can build lasting legacies and enrich the future of all our nations. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar received the delegates at the Jinnah Convention Centre Islamabad, followed by a group photo of the participating leaders. . The delegates from the member countries and observer group are participating in the summit.