Opportunity requires capacity

By Zubair Qureshi | China Daily Global | Updated: 2026-06-15 19:06

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For Pakistan, the 25th anniversary of the SCO is a reminder that regional diplomacy must now be tied to measurable delivery

Over the past 25 years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has evolved from a security-focused regional arrangement into a broader regional platform where questions of connectivity, energy, trade, counterterrorism, development and political coordination now overlap. As member states navigate the increasingly complex regional geopolitics, the anniversary should be understood less as a ceremonial milestone than as a test of whether the organization can deliver concrete outcomes for shared development.

The SCO’s importance lies in its ability to bring diverse political systems, security priorities and economic interests into one cooperation mechanism. Its members do not always view every issue in the same way, but the platform provides space for structured engagement in a region where mistrust, unresolved conflicts, terrorism, weak connectivity and economic fragmentation continue to limit growth.

For Pakistan, the most immediate SCO priority should be connectivity with Central Asia. The region offers markets, energy resources, transit possibilities and strategic room for trade diversification. Yet the promise of Central Asia has remained underdeveloped because transport corridors, customs systems, banking channels, border procedures and security conditions have not kept pace with political statements. This is where Pakistan’s existing partnerships and infrastructure can fit into a broader regional frame by connecting national infrastructure with regional demand. Playing a constructive role in the SCO platform can help facilitate smoother transit arrangements, harmonized customs documentation, better road and rail planning, easier business visas, digital trade facilitation and stronger coordination on logistics.

The SCO can also help Pakistan shift the debate from security anxiety to economic seriousness. Regional stability is essential for investment, trade and transit. Though member states may disagree on certain issues, the SCO does create a regional environment where escalation, disruption and zero-sum games carry higher costs. It creates opportunities for countries to support cooperation, defend their own interests and demonstrate that regional platforms can only function when member states respect sovereignty, stability and the spirit of collective development.

Energy cooperation is another area where the SCO can become more relevant. Central Asian states have significant energy potential, while regional markets need better infrastructure and long-term arrangements. The SCO can play a role in promoting discussions on power connectivity, gas transit, renewable energy collaboration, grid stability, energy efficiency and investment protection. For Pakistan, this should be linked with domestic reforms so that external opportunities are not weakened by circular debt, regulatory uncertainty or weak implementation.

Trade should be treated with the same discipline. Pakistan cannot benefit from regional platforms if it does not prepare competitive products, reliable supply chains and export-ready companies. The SCO can open doors to priority sectors of cooperation and Pakistan can realistically expand exports, including textiles, sports goods, surgical instruments, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, information technology services and processed food. This requires standards compliance in packaging, certification, digital payments, cold chains, warehousing, trade finance and commerce.

The 25th anniversary also offers an opportunity to strengthen Pakistan’s role as a bridge between regional groupings. The SCO is not only a security forum and an economic platform, but also a political space where Eurasian states discuss development, connectivity and regional stability. A mature approach for Pakistan would be presenting itself as a state seeking balanced engagement, regional peace, economic corridors and development partnerships. This helps Pakistan preserve diplomatic flexibility while deepening cooperation with its closest partners.

People-to-people exchanges and knowledge sharing should also be part of the next phase of cooperation. Regional integration cannot depend only on summits and official statements. Pakistan needs more language training, university partnerships, technical exchanges, think-tank collaborations, transport-sector expertise and business-to-business networks with SCO countries. Students, traders, engineers, logistics professionals, entrepreneurs and policy researchers can build the social and commercial base that official diplomacy alone cannot create.

The central lesson for Pakistan is clear: multilateral platforms create opportunity, but national capacity determines results. The SCO can provide access, legitimacy and connectivity with other regional mechanisms, but it cannot fix Pakistan’s internal implementation gaps. If Pakistan wants to benefit from the organization’s next phase, it must improve its governance, reduce policy uncertainty, secure investment sites, strengthen provincial coordination, support exporters and ensure that projects are commercially viable.

At 25, the SCO should not be judged only by the number of summits it has held or declarations it has issued. Its real value will depend on whether it can help member states manage insecurity, increase trade, build corridors, expand energy cooperation and create practical economic outcomes. For Pakistan, the anniversary is a reminder that regional diplomacy must now be tied to measurable delivery. Pakistan has a steady and consistent partnership with China, which is built on mutual trust and prospers together on connectivity. What it needs now is disciplined execution. The best contribution Pakistan can make to the SCO’s next phase is not rhetorical enthusiasm. It is to become a reliable connector, a serious economic partner and a state capable of converting regional opportunity into national growth.