Pakistan's SCO membership significant in changing geo-strategic environment
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ISLAMABAD: (APP) Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence Production Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum Sunday said Pakistan's membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was a significant development in the changing geopolitical scenario.
"The SCO is an important forum and becoming of its full member especially when new alignments are being made at international level is a significant achievement for Pakistan," he said while talking to APP.
He said there would be economic as well as military benefits after joining the prestigious forum, adding that increased cooperation with the member states in diverse fields would help Pakistan in achieving sustainable prosperity and development.
He said the status of full member of SCO would enable Pakistan to have a better and effective platform to fight the menace of terrorism, which was a greatest challenge for Pakistan.
Terming the membership a 'success' of Pakistan's foreign policies, he said it was another feature in the cap of the present government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
He said ups and downs in international relations always remained the part of foreign policies, but important thing was that Pakistan made remarkable achievements like getting of the GSP Plus status from the European Union, signing of CASA-1000 project with the Central Asian states, initiating of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and making advancements in the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.
Besides, the general said, a remarkable $46 billion Chinese investment started pouring in Pakistan for different sectors specially energy and infrastructure development.
With these achievements, Qayyum expressed confidence that Pakistan's economy would soon be in a take-of position, leading to become an Asian Tiger.
He said Pakistan would further strengthen its relationship with SCO and make its contribution for regional peace, stability and development as well as support cooperation against terrorism and extremism.
