Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Monday to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting scheduled for October 19–20, 2026.

Dar is visiting at the invitation of Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda. Upon arrival, he was received by Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Irfan Ahmed, and Pakistan’s national coordinator for the SCO, Khalil Hashmi, along with senior Tajik officials.

The Council of Heads of Government is the SCO’s second-highest decision-making body. It focuses on economic, financial, trade, connectivity and socioeconomic cooperation, as well as the organisation’s budget.

Leaders and representatives from China, Russia, India, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are also expected to participate.

During the visit, Dar is scheduled to meet Tajikistan’s president and prime minister and hold bilateral talks with counterparts from other SCO member states.

The visit comes as Pakistan prepares to host the SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Islamabad in 2027, creating further opportunities for regional engagement and cooperation.