ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Egypt on Wednesday on three-day official visit, during which he is likely to hold talks with Gulf’s country top leadership and attend the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation summit.
The 11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries being held in Cairo from December 18-20, where the participant nations will discuss the humanitarian crisis and reconstruction challenges in Gaza and Lebanon.
During this three-day visit, he will also attend the Special Session of D8 on the Humanitarian Crisis and Reconstruction Challenges in Gaza and Lebanon and holding meetings with heads of states and government of the D-8 members’ countries.
“The prime minister of Pakistan will attend the Special Session of D-8 on the Humanitarian Crisis and Reconstruction Challenges in Gaza and Lebanon to deliberate on the situation resulting from Israeli aggression in the Middle East,” Foreign Office said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Egypt is hosting the summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, which also includes Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation summit is scheduled to open on Thursday with the participation of Egypt, Turkiye, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nigeria.
The theme of the 11th D-8 Summit, is “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy to discuss critical issues impacting the global south, youth empowerment, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development, and economic collaboration across the member states.
It added that the prime minister will also underline Pakistan’s principled stance on the situation in Palestine and call for peace in the region in the Summit.
PM Shehbaz will also express Pakistan’s strong resolve to the ideals of D-8, underline the importance of fostering partnerships for mutual benefit and prosperity, and promoting cooperation in agriculture, tourism and food security, the Foreign Office said.
The Prime Minister will underline Pakistan’s incentives for youth empowerment and financial development.
The premier will also attend the Special Session of D8 on the Humanitarian Crisis and Reconstruction Challenges in Gaza and Lebanon to deliberate on the situation resulting from Israeli aggression in the Middle East, reported state broadcast Radio Pakistan.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Sharif is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with participating leaders.
Ahead of the summit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar already arrived in Cairo to represent the country at the 21st Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers being held today.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 has arrived in Cairo to attend the 21st Council of Foreign Ministers of Developing-8 (D8).
The DPM/FM will also join the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz at the 11th D-8 Summit…— Ministry of Foreign Affairs –(@ForeignOfficePk) December 17, 2024
The D-8 foreign ministers are set to meet on today to discuss the outcomes of the preparatory meetings.
The D-8 group, sharing a combined GDP of around $5 trillion, was established in Istanbul in 1997 to strengthen economic and social relations among its member states.
