Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Pakistan will host the next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, directing authorities to begin preparations without delay.

Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, the premier said new accommodations must be built and beautification drives intensified to ensure the capital is ready to welcome incoming dignitaries.

He noted that Tajikistan has gifted saplings for plantation, while the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other teams are already engaged in greening projects.

This development comes less than two weeks after the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, where Pakistan raised the Indus Waters Treaty issue and signed a joint declaration condemning the attacks on the Jaffar Express and terrorism act in Khuzdar.

The prime minister did not announce a date for the summit. Pakistan last hosted an SCO event in 2024, when it organised the Council of Heads of Government Summit.

PM lays foundation of T-Chowk Flyover

During the ceremony, PM Shehbaz performed the groundbreaking of the T-Chowk Flyover Project on Islamabad Expressway, terming it a milestone initiative for residents of the twin cities.

The project, costing Rs1,495 million and scheduled for completion in 150 days, is being financed through CDA’s self-funding on existing land without additional acquisition.

It officially began on September 12 and is expected to be completed by February 9, 2026.

PM Shehbaz praised Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, CDA Chairman, and their teams for spearheading the project, stressing that quality must not be compromised and completion timelines must be met.

He also hinted at launching a new rail car service for Islamabad and Rawalpindi, calling it a potential “great gift” for citizens.

Naqvi highlighted that avoiding additional land acquisition saved the government Rs7 billion, while officials noted the project will ease congestion at Rawat’s T-Chowk junction, a key entry point to the capital handling 100,000 vehicles daily.

The new flyover, 1.034km long and 11.3 metres wide, will serve more than 41,000 vehicles per day once completed, along with street lighting and horticultural works.

Special monitoring teams have been formed to maintain quality standards, with the prime minister reiterating that national projects must set benchmarks in both speed and quality.