ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday stressed the need for operationalising agreements among the developing eight (D-8) member countries related to removing barriers in trade and business.
Addressing the inaugural session of the D-8 Commission in Islamabad on Monday, Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that although the D-8 has made efforts to bring the countries closer to each other but there is still need to further expand trade relations among the member States.
Aziz said the D-8 can play effective role to deal with economic and social challenges of the member countries.
The advisor proposed to the member countries to evolve a mechanism of cooperation in the energy sector‚ as the energy crisis is becoming a daunting challenge.
Aziz informed that Pakistan was in the process of organizing the first meeting of D-8 Energy Forum in Islamabad.
Later‚ in his meeting with the D-8 Secretary-General Dr. Seyed Ali Muhammad Mousavi‚ Sartaj Aziz expressed the hope that the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement will be implemented soon.
The D-8 Secretary General assured support in expediting the implementation of D-8 agreements.
D-8 commissioners from member countries‚ including Bangladesh‚ Egypt‚ Indonesia‚ Iran‚ Malaysia‚ Nigeria‚ Pakistan and Turkey‚ are attending the two-day meeting.
