As Pakistan hosts SCO Summit 2024, 5 things about host city Islamabad

Pakistan is hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2024 in Islamabad. The SCO is a pact of coming together of countries to support economic, security, cultural, defence and anti- terrorist activities for the prosperity and protection of the country’s growth. The SCO summit in Pakistan would determine the country’s growth by paralleling and redefining the identity at a global stage.  

As the organisation meets for high-level talks, the host city Islamabad turns into a forum of diplomacy for the member states, observers and dialogue partners to discuss and prioritise various issues that shape regional security concerns.

Islamabad has held several high-profile summits, but the SCO Summit 2024 comes when its all-weather ally China is flexing muscles in the Asia-Pacific region. The success of this meeting in maintaining peace in the region would potentially define Pakistan’s stature in the game of geostrategy. This makes Islamabad a key city of the moment.

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Here are the top five things about Islamabad that are noteworthy:

Capital Territory

When Pakistan was carved out after the Partition of India, Karachi became its national capital. In the 1950s, the idea of having a centrally located capital was discussed intently in Pakistan. Islamabad came up as the first planned city of Pakistan. It became Pakistan’s capital in the 1960s. It was engineered into a green and clean space, with modern infrastructure and relishing designs which offers harmony and aesthetic composition. It further got ideally constructed into an accessible and approachable capital.

Educational hub

With hands-on quality learning and a wider range of prestigious institutions, including National University of Sciences and technology (NUST), COMSATS University Islamabad, SZABIST University Islamabad, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and substantially more, Islamabad offers quality education opportunity in Pakistan, attracting intellectuals, professionals and policy-makers.  

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Economic centre

Islamabad is primarily known as the legislative and administrative capital of Pakistan, but it is also emerging as the fastest-growing economy region in Pakistan. With a growing demand for technology and IT (information technology), it is also gradually evolving in scale. The introduction of National Incubation Centres (NIC) has led to an increase in business development, ventureship in tech industries. Another sector that has seen significant growth in Islamabad is tourism that also infuses energy into trade, investment and other economic activities.

Remarkable gender parity Index

Pakistan generally comes as a misogynistic society with patriarchy dominating the nation. But Islamabad appears to paint a slightly positive image of the country. It has roughly an equal ratio of male and female students in educational institutions. It showcases a proactive approach in gender equality and states the progressive mindset of the citizens.

Hub of political activism

Islamabad is known as the diplomatic and political hub of activism. It is home to headquarters of several political parties and has embassies of countries. It is filled with debate and discussion programmes, keeping Pakistan on an international platform.  

The hosting of the SCO Summit 2024 is another opportunity for Islamabad to showcase its potential as a city of international dialogues against the backdrop of an intense debate within Pakistan over political freedoms and freedom of speech.