The government of Pakistan has declared a three-day public holiday in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from October 14 to 16 to facilitate the smooth conduct of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. According to the official notification, all educational institutions and government offices in the twin cities will remain closed during this period.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the decision to ensure the proper organization of the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting, which will be held on October 15 and 16 in Islamabad. The summit will see leaders from across the Eurasian region, including the prime ministers of Russia and China, convene in Pakistan’s capital.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will also attend, marking the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years. The last such visit was by Sushma Swaraj in December 2015, which was followed by a surprise visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lahore.
The SCO, a major political, economic, and security alliance founded in 2001, originally included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It has since expanded, adding India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia holding observer status. The organization plays a key role in fostering regional cooperation and is often regarded as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO.
