ISLAMABAD: The government has defended its decision to procure 45 bulletproof vehicles for security arrangements during the 2027 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, describing the fleet as the minimum required to safely transport visiting heads of state and government.
The Cabinet Division, in a statement also shared by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on social media, rejected criticism of the procurement as unwarranted and said preparations for the summit should not be politicised.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in August or September 2027, with the government describing the gathering as one of the country’s most important international events.
According to the Cabinet Division, the summit will bring together heads of state and government, along with senior officials from international organisations. It said secure and dependable transportation was therefore a key part of the arrangements.
The division also cited Pakistan’s security environment and threats from hostile elements as reasons for maintaining enhanced security measures for the visiting delegations.
Govt details procurement plan
The Cabinet Division said the latest bulletproof vehicles presently available with the government were 2016 models and did not meet the specifications required for the upcoming summit.
It said the procurement of 45 new bulletproof vehicles had been discussed at multiple forums before the number was finalised, stressing that the figure represented the “bare minimum requirement”.
In addition to the bulletproof vehicles, around 300 ordinary vehicles will reportedly be hired to meet the broader transportation needs of the summit.
The clarification came after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved funding for the procurement in two phases.
Earlier in September, the ECC sanctioned a Rs6.6 billion supplementary grant for 30 bulletproof vehicles. The Cabinet Division had initially requested Rs12.6 billion for more than 50 vehicles, but the committee directed it to carry out a detailed assessment before seeking funding for any additional requirement.
The ECC later approved a further Rs3 billion technical supplementary grant for 15 bulletproof sedans. It said the vehicles were required for the security of visiting heads of state and emphasised that preparations for the summit needed to be completed in a timely manner.
The committee also reviewed security and transport arrangements adopted during the recent SCO Council of Heads of State summit in Kyrgyzstan as part of its deliberations.
The two ECC approvals bring the total number of bulletproof vehicles to 45.
Pakistan prepares to host major SCO gathering
The Cabinet Division said the SCO summit would be a major diplomatic event for Pakistan and among the country’s most prominent international gatherings in decades.
It said hosting the meeting would give Pakistan an opportunity to raise its international profile and strengthen its role within the regional organisation.
Pakistan assumed the SCO chairmanship for 2026-27 during the organisation’s summit in Bishkek in September. Islamabad is consequently scheduled to host the next Council of Heads of State meeting in 2027.
The government said arrangements for the summit would have to conform to security protocols applicable to visits by heads of state and government.
The Cabinet Division called on the public to regard the hosting of the summit as an honour for Pakistan and support preparations for the high-profile international event.
