New Delhi: The Union government has invited Pakistan and the other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to take part in the bloc’s first civilisational heritage forum.
The SCO, which includes India, China and Russia among its 10 members, works to promote regional goodwill and cooperation among member countries. Pakistan has assumed the SCO chairmanship from September 1.
The three-day forum is scheduled to be held from November 20 to 22 at the 16th-century Purana Qila fort in Delhi. Officials expect representatives from more than 25 countries to participate, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the event.
Discussions will focus on civilisational linkages between member states, cultural ties, and joint efforts around traditional knowledge systems. The programme is being organised by the Ministry of Culture in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs.
Invitations have been sent to the cultural ministers of all 10 SCO member countries, including Pakistan’s Minister for Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, along with ministers from Russia, China, the UAE, Iran and Belarus. The last major SCO meeting attended by a Pakistani minister in India was the 2023 foreign ministers’ meeting in Goa, where Bilawal Bhutto participated.
