The 25th Anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. June 15, 2026 (2026-08A)

About the Organization:-

1. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a ten-member inter-governmental trans-regional organization. It was established in Shanghai on 15 June 2001 as a successor organization of the Shanghai Five. SCO has two Observers and fourteen Dialogue Partners.

2. SCO membership includes four nuclear States and two permanent members of the UNSC. SCO is the largest regional multilateral organization in the world, with 3.4 billion people (42% of the world population), it occupies a landmass of 36 million square kilometers (25% of the global landmass) and accounts for a combined GDP of US$ 24.67 trillion (24% of the global GDP).

3. SCO is based on the "Shanghai Spirit" which stands for mutual trust and respect, equality, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of shared development. Decisions in SCO forums are taken by consensus. Discussions on bilateral disputes between member States are avoided at the Organization's forums.

Pakistan at the SCO:-

4. Pakistan became an SCO Observer in 2005. The Memorandum of Obligations (MoO) was signed between Pakistan and the SCO Secretariat in March 2016. In June 2016, member States agreed to start Pakistan's membership process. The Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Astana in April 2017 a affirmed Pakistan's completion of the procedure for accession. Subsequently, Pakistan acquired full membership in June 2017 during the Council of Heads of State (CHS) Summit meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan.

5. Pakistan's membership in SCO highlights its interest in regional peace, stability and socio-economic development. SCO allows Pakistan to explore greater economic linkages and cooperation in trade, investment, energy. Innovation, transport and connectivity.

6. Being landlocked and owing to their geographical proximity with Pakistan, SCO member States in Central Asia are naturally interested in access and connectivity to Pakistan's seaports, aligning with Pakistan's vision of becoming a transport and trade hub for Central Asian States.

7. Pakistan has consistently stressed the cooperative nature of SCO for regional connectivity and socio-economic development. Pakistan has actively participated in SCO activities, hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting in Islamabad on 17-18 October 2024, and is ready assume the Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September 2026 and host the Summit in 2027.

On the 25 Anniversary Shanghai Cooperation Organizations, Pakistan Post is issuing the Commemorative Postage Stamp of denomination Rs. 30/-on June 15th, 2026.