ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embarked on a three-day official visit to Egypt on Wednesday to attend the D-8 Summit being held in Cairo from December 18-20.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement that Pakistan will participate in the Eleventh Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries in Cairo, where the participant nations will discuss the humanitarian crisis and reconstruction challenges in Gaza and Lebanon resulting from Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
The statement said, “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.”
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.
Investing in Youth, Supporting SMEs
The theme of the 11th D-8 Summit is “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy.”
The D-8 Summit is a gathering of leaders from eight developing nations including Egypt, Bangladesh, Iran, Indonesia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Turkiye. The forum aims to promote economic cooperation and development among member nations, with a focus on areas such as energy, trade, agriculture, and transportation.
Shehbaz Sharif will also express Pakistan’s strong resolve to the ideals of D-8, underline the significance of fostering partnerships for mutual benefit and prosperity, and promoting cooperation in agriculture, tourism and food security, the Foreign Office said.
Pakistan Deputy PM Visits Cario
Shehbaz Sharif will also underline Pakistan’s incentives for youth empowerment and financial development.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Sharif is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with participating leaders.
According to the Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister Dar arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to attend the summit.
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… pic.twitter.com/tmnwgo20BT
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 17, 2024
Preceding the D-8 Summit, Dar will attend the 21st Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers on December 18. On the sidelines, he is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts attending the Summit.
