PIA Shuts Islamabad Offices for Three Days Amid SCO Conference
Pakistan is set to host a two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad on Oct 15 and 16,
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced that its offices in Islamabad will be closed for three days, from October 14 to 16, in preparation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
According to a circular from the airline, while the main offices will be closed, airport staff working shifts will maintain their regular duties.
The SCO summit, which will take place in Islamabad on October 15 and 16, will include various heads of state, including India’s foreign minister.
This move underscores PIA’s dedication to facilitating smooth operations during this important international event.
The circular noted that airport staff on shifts will carry on their normal duties.
Additionally, access to the Red Zone in the federal capital will be restricted starting Saturday (today).
The federal government has declared a three-day ‘closed holiday’ in the twin cities from October 14 to 16.
Leaders from across the Eurasian region, including the prime ministers of Russia and China, are set to attend the two-day summit.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will also make the trip to Islamabad for the event. This visit marks the first by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly nine years. Sushma Swaraj was the last to visit in December 2015, just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise stop in Lahore.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a significant political, economic, and security alliance in Eurasia, was founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Since then, it has expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, while Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia hold observer status.
The bloc is often viewed as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO and plays a crucial role in fostering regional cooperation.