Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to Embark on 18 December Official Visit to Egypt for D-8 Summit

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will embark on a three-day official visit to Egypt from December 18 to 20 to attend the 11th Developing-8 (D-8) Summit in Cairo, the Foreign Office announced on Sunday.

The high-level summit, themed “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy,” will bring together leaders from member states to address global challenges and promote economic collaboration. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also participate in the preceding D-8 Ministerial Council meeting on December 18.

According to the Foreign Office, the prime minister’s agenda includes:

• Advocating for investments in youth and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as catalysts for sustainable economic growth.
• Fostering partnerships in agriculture, food security, and tourism to boost regional prosperity.
• Highlighting Pakistan’s efforts in youth empowerment and financial inclusion.

The summit will also focus on humanitarian issues in Gaza and Lebanon, with discussions centered on reconstruction efforts and the impact of Middle Eastern conflicts. The prime minister is set to reaffirm Pakistan’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause and call for peace in the region.