Monday, 14 October, 2024 | 10 Rabi ul Sani, 1446
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DAR CHARGES PTI OF TRYING TO ‘UNDERMINE’ SCO MOOT Says matters within SCO framework to be discussed at CHG-SCO meeting
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ISLAMABAD
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Confirms no request made by India for bilateral meeting on SCO sidelines
STAFF REPORT
EPUTY Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the country’s commitment to successfully hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, despite attempts by a political party to disrupt proceedings through protests. Without naming Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dar criticised the party for trying to sabotage the summit with their call for protests. Speaking during a walk-through event in Islamabad to review the summit’s arrangements, Dar emphasised that Pakistan was fully prepared to welcome leaders and delegates from SCO member and observer countries. “We are ready to extend a warm welcome to the summit participants, including the In-
dian foreign minister,” he stated. Dar highlighted that Pakistan was hosting a major international event after several years and would handle its responsibilities with excellence. He also noted that while China’s prime minister would be visiting Pakistan for bilateral talks, no request for a bilateral meeting
SCO Summit to showcase Pakistan’s true potential: Tarar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, has said that Pakistan is hosting major events and that the world is now realizing the county’s true potential. Briefing the international media in Islamabad on Sunday about preparations for the upcoming SCO
summit, he said hosting the Chinese Premier and holding a SCO Council of Heads Government meeting is a great honor for Pakistan. The Minister said the arrangements for the summit have been completed. He said that Islamabad has been decorated and turned into a picturesque city reflecting the cultures of SCO member states.
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had been received from India’s foreign minister. The SCO secretarygeneral would brief the media on the conference, and all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had played crucial roles in the summit’s preparations. Reflecting on past events, Dar pointed out that PTI had staged a sit-in during a previous visit by the Chinese prime minister in 2014 and was now attempting to disrupt the SCO summit. “Protests during nationally significant events do not send a positive message,” Dar said, urging the political party to reconsider its approach. He said that Pakistan was ready to host Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting on October 15-16 in Islamabad in which different significant issues would be discussed under the SCO framework.
Chinese premier to arrive in Islamabad for SCO Summit today ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will arrive in Pakistan on Monday for a bilateral visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The visit coincides with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit being held in Islamabad.
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Premier Li will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and senior officials from key Chinese institutions such as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
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