Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Russia in November to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting, official sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The high-level meeting will be hosted by Russia and attended by heads of government from all SCO member states, including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and India.
During the event, PM Shehbaz Sharif will deliver an address on behalf of Pakistan, emphasizing the country’s commitment to enhancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation among regional partners. His speech will highlight Pakistan’s focus on regional connectivity, sustainable development, and collective efforts to ensure long-term economic stability across the SCO region.
Focus on bilateral and regional cooperation
Sources further revealed that several bilateral meetings are expected to take place on the sidelines of the summit, including a key session between PM Shehbaz Sharif and the Russian leadership. The discussions will center on deepening energy collaboration, increasing trade volumes, and identifying new investment avenues between Pakistan and Russia.
Both sides are also likely to explore partnerships in agriculture, science, and technology — areas that hold potential for mutual economic benefit. Pakistan is particularly interested in securing affordable energy imports and expanding cooperation in oil, gas, and renewable sectors as part of its broader economic recovery strategy.
The upcoming visit is seen as an important step in Islamabad’s efforts to strengthen ties with Moscow and advance its foreign policy agenda of regional engagement. Pakistan’s active participation in the SCO framework reflects its intention to balance relations with key powers while promoting peace, connectivity, and shared prosperity across Eurasia.
The visit marks PM Shehbaz’s first trip to Russia since assuming office and comes at a time when global geopolitical alignments are rapidly shifting toward regional economic cooperation.
