Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned against weaponising water for political purposes, saying that it must never be “weaponised or used as an instrument of coercion”.
PM Shehbaz stated this while addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) Summit in Bishkek after Pakistan assumed the organisation’s chairmanship for 2026–27.
“South Asia cannot realise its true potential without lasting peace. Water is the lifeblood of our region; it sustains millions of lives, nourishes our land,” the PM said.
The premier stressed that the water “must never be weaponised; it must never be used as an instrument of coercion nor can it ever be exploited for political leverage”.
Pakistan has assumed the chairmanship of the SCO’s CHS, which will run for one year, with Islamabad set to host the next SCO Council of Heads of State summit in 2027.
During its term, Pakistan will lead the organisation’s activities and seek to strengthen cooperation among member states in areas including regional security, economic development and connectivity.
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz Sharif joined leaders of SCO member states at the summit in the Kyrgyz capital and signed the summit’s declaration, with participating countries discussing regional and international issues.
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.
2026-09-01 11:45:00
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