ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in the 19th Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers hosted by Bangladesh in virtual format on Wednesday.
Foreign Ministers/Representatives of all D-8 Member States including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey attended the meeting.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi led the Pakistan delegation.
D-8 Secretary-General Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari briefed the meeting on the activities and new initiatives undertaken by D-8 Secretariat since the last CFM held in 2018.
Speaking on the occasion, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi emphasized that partnerships and collaborations in investing in youth education, skills and training, harnessing technology, and promoting innovation were crucial for socio-economic prosperity.
Pleased to address 19th #D8 Council of Ministers meeting. The theme, “Partnership for a Transformative World: Harnessing Power of Youth and Technology” is v relevant in today’s highly digitised world. The future belongs to the youth & they must have a role in shaping it. @D8org pic.twitter.com/Hajjvpg0de
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
Around 60% of the 220 million Pakistanis are under the age of 30. Investing in youth is therefore a key priority of our government & we are empowering our youth through education, employment and engagement. 🇵🇰 reaffirms our commitment to the vision and objectives of the D-8. https://t.co/zCLPeKL98q
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
Highlighting the importance of technological development in economic prosperity, he urged the D-8 Member States to promote knowledge-based economies, expand expenditure on research and development, and focus on rapid digitalization to remain competitive.
To achieve the goals and objectives of the Organization, Qureshi underscored the need for effective implementation of the D-8 decisions and initiatives. He said that the adoption of Dhaka Declaration and D-8 Decennial Roadmap 2020-2030 will set clear priorities of the Organization to achieve its true potential.
The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to D-8 objectives and vision.
Qureshi highlighted Pakistan’s role as an active D-8 member. Pakistan hosted the 8th D-8 Summit in 2012 which adopted two landmark documents including D-8 Charter and Global Vision. The 15th and 16th CFM Sessions were also hosted by Pakistan in 2012 and 2013.
The 19th CFM was preceded by the 43rd Session of the D-8 Commission on April 5-6, 2021, and will be followed by the 10th D-8 Summit on April 8, 2021.
D-8 was established in 1997 to promote development cooperation among member countries and is headquartered in Istanbul.
The Summit is the highest organ of the D-8 followed by the CFM which is convened on annual basis.
