Cairo (TDI): Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Cairo on a three-day visit to Egypt.
Minister for Public Business Sector of Egypt, Mohamed Shimi along with senior Egyptian and officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Cairo received the Prime Minister upon arrival at the airport.
The Prime Minister will lead the Pakistan delegation at the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries.
The theme of the 11th D-8 Summit is “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy.”
At the Summit, the Prime Minister will underline the importance of investing in youth and SMEs for building a strong and inclusive economy; creating jobs; advancing innovation; and promoting local entrepreneurship.
The Prime Minister will also 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.
On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the participating leaders.
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Pakistan delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar.
Preceding the Summit, Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar attended the 21st Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers on 18 December 2024.
He would also address the forum conveying Pakistan’s concern over situation in the Middle East.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister called for an immediate and unconditional end to the hostilities in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria and for responding to the humanitarian situation in the Middle East, according to Radio Pakistan.
He said the situation in Gaza has worsened with devastating loss of precious live and injuries to large number of innocent civilians.
Also Read:Pakistan Demands UNSC Action for Gaza Ceasefire
He highlighted the potential for economic collaboration and trade within the D-8 economies, specifically in the areas of agriculture, food security and tourism.
He termed the signing of the Protocol on the D-8 PTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism as a key achievement for resolving trade disputes and promoting intra-regional trade.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister underscored Pakistan’s commitment to working with other D-8 member states for collective prosperity and development.
He also expressed Pakistan’s support for Azerbaijan’s application for membership of the D-8.
