Photonews Logo Photonews logo
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Balochistan
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
    IShowSpeed Daniel La Belle race
    Videos

    IShowSpeed Beats Daniel La Belle in 40-Meter Race, Hits 41M Subscribers

    June 24, 2025 2 Min Read
    Cardi B new single Outside
    Videos

    Cardi B’s ‘Outside’ Single Sparks Buzz Over Offset and Stefon Diggs

    June 20, 2025 2 Min Read
    Squid Game Season 3
    Videos

    Squid Game Season 3: Final Trailer Unveils Epic Plot

    June 14, 2025 2 Min Read
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Reading: SCO membership: A potential game changer for Pakistan?
PhotoNews Pakistan PhotoNews Pakistan
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
    • Sindh
    • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
    • Balochistan
    • Azad Jammu Kashmir
    • Gilgit – Baltistan
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Videos
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Offbeat
  • Blog
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2022 Photonews. All Rights Reserved.
PhotoNews Pakistan > Business > SCO membership: A potential game changer for Pakistan?
Business

SCO membership: A potential game changer for Pakistan?

Web Desk
By Web Desk Published September 28, 2015 5 Min Read
Share
SHARE

The process of granting Pakistan full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is finally under way in Ufa during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit in July this year and the country is expected to win the coveted  status in January 2016.

This will provide Pakistan an opportunity to play its cards strongly with conventional development partners like the United States and multilateral donors including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank. There is a common perception that the US uses these multilateral forums for political gains globally.

The SCO summit in Ufa, Russia once again outlined its status as an important and effective multilateral forum that discusses actual problems of international policy, economy, regional stability and security. These four elements have been very important in stimulating investment.

The influence of this forum is consistently growing. After Iran enters it and the number of observer countries and dialogue partners increases, the SCO will definitely transform itself from being a regional “hub club” to a powerful cooperation forum that deals with economy and security issues on a wide geographical area from eastern Europe to Southeast Asia.

The permanent SCO membership for Pakistan will ensure greater access to resources and energy import projects within the grouping’s framework. It would not have to wait for long, just the start of the membership process will give Pakistan a trump card in dialogue with traditional donors, particularly the US, who always tries to use its economic support as a pressure tactic.

Look at the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project. In this case, Pakistan has faced mounting pressure to shelve the scheme and move towards liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar. Even the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has engaged a consultant to assist Pakistan in inking a commercial deal for LNG supply with Qatar.

Economic cooperation

Pakistan’s membership of the SCO will significantly strengthen the country’s position in the region and the world over and will have a positive impact on several major issues pertaining to military and technical cooperation between Russia and Pakistan and on huge communication projects with China.

With plans under way to connect the Silk Road Economic Belt with the Eurasian Economic Union, the role of Pakistan in regional economy and infrastructure projects will definitely increase because the Kashgar-Gwadar project between Islamabad and Beijing is part of the Silk Road belt.

Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, in a recent meeting of SCO commerce ministers in China, offered them to use Pakistan’s ports once the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was completed to get access to trade routes through the Arabian Sea.

He said Pakistan’s trade strategy focused on developing linkages with neighbours, leveraging the country’s geographical location and capitalising on regional connectivity initiatives. Cross-border land trade is especially important for landlocked countries and Pakistan and SCO members will benefit substantially from greater integration through energy, commerce and transit trade.

He added CPEC was a landmark initiative under the umbrella of “One Belt One Road” and it envisaged connectivity and expansion of trade and investment through a network of roads, rail, fibre optic cables and energy pipelines. This was the vision that Pakistan and China were following to enhance trade by connecting the region, he said.

However, experts caution that things could get complicated if Pakistan tries to use the SCO forum to resolve its issues without paying attention to the interests of other member states. SCO definitely has the potential of mediating and resolving varying problems, but such attempts could prove counterproductive.

However, western countries, though critical about the SCO, have a growing understanding that the grouping has already consolidated its place as one of the key forums of international cooperation and it is almost impossible to ignore it. Pakistan could also use it effectively by looking at multiple options in order to deepen economic cooperation because economic development is the best remedy to the threat of terrorism.

TAGGED:Nawaz SharifPak­istan
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

Karachi PECHS robbery 2025

TikTokers Arrested for Rs130M Robbery in Karachi’s PECHS Area

Zlatan Ibrahimovic defends Messi after nter Miami’s 4-0 Club World Cup Loss

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Defends Messi After Inter Miami’s 4-0 Club World Cup Loss

PSG Inter Miami Club World Cup

PSG Crushes Inter Miami 4-0 in Club World Cup, Advances to Quarter-Finals

Japan's Princess Kako Econony flight

Japan’s Princess Kako’s Humble Economy Flight to Brazil Wins Hearts

Beyoncé Cowboy Carter Tour

Beyoncé Narrowly Escapes Fall After “Flying Car” Malfunctions

Post Archives

More Popular from Photonews

Trump Netanyahu Corruption
Top NewsWorld

Trump Opposes Netanyahu’s Corruption Prosecution, Citing U.S. Support for Israel

4 Min Read
Justin Bieber lilbieber 2025
Pakistan

Pakistan Denies $100M Price Tag for Roosevelt Hotel Privatisation

2 Min Read
IShowSpeed Daniel La Belle race
Videos

IShowSpeed Beats Daniel La Belle in 40-Meter Race, Hits 41M Subscribers

2 Min Read
Sports

West Indies Bowlers Seales and Joseph Stun Australia in Thrilling Test Opener

The Kensington Oval in Bridgetown buzzed with excitement. West Indies fast bowlers Jayden Seales and Shamar…

June 26, 2025
Sports

Ben Duckett’s Century Powers England to Historic Test Win Over India

On June 24, 2025, Ben Duckett’s brilliant century guided England to a sensational five-wicket victory against…

June 25, 2025
Pakistan

‘I think, Minus Imran Khan has Happened’, Aleema Khan Amid KP Budget Controversy

Aleema Khan, sister of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, responded to claims that the Pakistan…

June 25, 2025
Entertainment

Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer Reveals Galactus, Sparks Doom Rumors

Marvel Studios unveiled the final trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps on June 26, 2025,…

June 26, 2025
PhotoNews Pakistan

Always Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Categories

  • World
  • Pakistan
  • Punjab
  • Sindh
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Balochistan
  • Azad Jammu Kashmir

 

  • Top News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Offbeat
  • Blog

© 2024 Phototnews
All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?