ISLAMABAD, 31 August 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Bishkek on Monday for a three-day official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic from August 31 to September 2, where he will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev welcomed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival at Manas International Airport. The prime minister is visiting Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov to participate in the SCO summit. During the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will address the SCO Council of Heads of State and present Pakistan’s perspective on key regional and global issues. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar are accompanying the prime minister. During his stay in Bishkek, Prime Minister Shehbaz will participate in the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State as well as the SCO Plus Summit. He will also assume Pakistan’s chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026-2027. The prime minister is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of participating countries on the sidelines of the SCO engagements. According to the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on August 31. On September 2, the prime minister will hold bilateral talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to review the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan relations. The two leaders will comprehensively review bilateral ties and discuss measures to further enhance cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They will also exchange views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and explore greater cooperation at regional and multilateral forums.