First Meeting of the SCO Council of National Coordinators (CNC), under the Chairmanship of Pakistan, 28-30 September 2026, Islamabad
Under Pakistan’s Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) for 2026-27, the first meeting of the Council of National Coordinators (CNC) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Islamabad from 28–30 September 2026. The meeting was chaired by the National Coordinator of the SCO for Pakistan and attended by National Coordinators from SCO Member States and representatives of the SCO Secretariat.
During the three-day meeting, the National Coordinators reviewed the programme of planned activities under Pakistan’s Chairmanship, took stock of the progress on key initiatives, and discussed preparations for forthcoming SCO meetings and events. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on strengthening the coordination among member states and ensuring effective implementation of Pakistan’s chairmanship priorities, in line with its theme, “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”
As part of the scheduled programme, the SCO delegations and representatives of the SCO secretariat visited the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), where they were introduced to Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage and diverse artistic traditions.
The delegation also visited the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, where they were briefed on the arrangements for hosting the SCO Hockey Tournament from 20th November to 02nd December 2026, as well as, the preparations being undertaken for the event, as part of Pakistan’s SCO Chairmanship.
The participating National Coordinators called on the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 30th September 2026. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister highlighted Pakistan’s priorities for its SCO Chairmanship and its commitment to working closely with all member states to advance the objectives of the Organization.
The meeting concluded with agreed outcomes. The participating National Coordinators reaffirmed their commitment to SCO goals and to advancing the objectives of the Organization through continued engagement and practical cooperation.
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
