Editor's Note.

August was quite an eventful month, mainly as Pakistan celebrated the diamond jubilee of its independence and 75 years of diplomatic ties with different nations this year. The day was celebrated with utmost national fervor, with the country's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, calling for a joint effort to make the country an economic powerhouse. Independence Day was celebrated to make Pakistan a progressive nation. Apart from hosting various events across the country, a new and revamped National Anthem was released. As Pakistan stands at the crossroads of history, this gives us an opportune time to see where we stand as a nation. Honest reflection, review, and analysis of the past 75 years, may help us all to consider a way forward in our national lives. Over all these years, the country survived three wars and the painful separation of its eastern wing. There were terrible days, and there were good days. Although we have stayed, we have to see if Pakistan was able to create a prosperous society and a country that the generations can look up to. Are we able to fulfill the dreams of our founding fathers for a welfare state for the citizens? And over the decades, we have been able to transform the country according to the goals and visions of our founding fathers.

At this critical historical juncture, this is a reminder of the valiant sacrifices made by the ancestors for the eventual religious, economic, and socio-cultural independence of succeeding generations. This year SCO is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the SCO Charter's signing and the 15th anniversary of the Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation among SCO member states. In a rundown towards the central SCO Summit scheduled to be held in September, the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers was hosted by the current Chairman of the organization Uzbekistan. Foreign Ministers from eight permanent members, four observer states, nine dialogue partners, and representatives from other countries and international organizations were present for this important summit. The meeting put forward the roadmap and finalized several critical thresholds for the upcoming conference in September. The most significant development at the CFM meeting in Tashkent is the adoption of the Joint Statement on Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention, a practical component to enforce the counter-proliferation of biological...