Islamabad (TDI): President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday received Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, former foreign secretary of Pakistan and secretary general-designate of the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization, at Aiwan-e-Sadr and congratulated him on his new assignment.
The president said Ambassador Mahmood’s appointment as secretary general of the D-8 was a source of pride for Pakistan, noting that the organization would benefit from the leadership of a seasoned and highly experienced Pakistani diplomat. He expressed confidence that Mahmood’s diplomatic insight and extensive experience would contribute to strengthening the forum and enhancing its relevance in the years ahead.
During the meeting, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood briefed the president on his upcoming role and outlined his vision for deepening cooperation among D-8 member states. He highlighted the organization’s untapped potential to drive economic growth and promote collective development across its diverse membership.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the D-8 as a founding member and stressed the importance of effective implementation of the D-8 Decennial Roadmap 2020–2030. He said there was a need to translate agreed frameworks into practical outcomes, particularly in key sectors such as trade, agriculture, energy, industry, transport and tourism.
Referring to the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement, the president observed that low levels of intra-D-8 trade underscored the urgency of fully operationalising the agreement. He welcomed the signing of the protocol on the D-8 PTA dispute settlement mechanism, describing it as a positive step towards removing trade barriers and strengthening economic cooperation among member countries.
Read More: President Zardari, UAE Envoy Reaffirm Strong Bilateral Relations
The president also emphasized the importance of promoting people-to-people contacts within the D-8 to further deepen cultural and historical links. He noted that institutional reforms were vital for the organization’s long-term effectiveness and expressed hope that Ambassador Sohail Mahmood would play a constructive role in aligning the D-8 with contemporary global standards while ensuring equitable representation of all member states.
Read More: President Zardari to Leave for Iraq on Five-Day Visit Today
President Zardari wished Ambassador Sohail Mahmood success in his new role and expressed confidence that he would advance the objectives of the D-8 while safeguarding Pakistan’s national interests.
Parliamentary Leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman, was also present at the meeting.
