ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) PM Shehbaz to attend D-8 Summit in Egypt, focus on youth, SMEs
By Rehan Khan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will embark on an official visit to Egypt from December 18 to 20 to participate in the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries, set to take place in Cairo.
Ahead of the summit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will attend the 21st Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers on December 18.
Themed “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy,” the 11th D-8 Summit will focus on empowering youth and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to foster sustainable economic growth.
At the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz will emphasize the pivotal role of youth investment and SME development in building resilient and inclusive economies, generating employment, advancing innovation, and promoting local entrepreneurship. He will reiterate Pakistan’s commitment to the D-8 ideals and highlight the significance of partnerships for shared prosperity, particularly in sectors like agriculture, food security, and tourism. The premier will also showcase Pakistan’s initiatives for youth empowerment and economic progress.
In addition, Prime Minister Shehbaz will attend a Special Session of the D-8 dedicated to addressing the humanitarian crisis and reconstruction challenges in Gaza and Lebanon. The session will deliberate on the aftermath of the Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
During the session, Prime Minister Shehbaz will reaffirm Pakistan’s principled stance on Palestine and call for urgent peace and stability in the region.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz is expected to hold bilateral meetings with participating leaders to discuss matters of mutual interest and enhance regional cooperation.
