PM Abbasi to hand over D-8 chairmanship to Turkey today

Khawaja Asif says the group has achieved significant milestones, including simplification of visa procedures

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is in Turkey to attend the 9^th Summit of 8 Developing Countries (D-8) including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey to hand over the chairmanship to Istanbul.

Pakistan is the current chair of the D-8 summit, it assumed this position at the 8^th summit held in Islamabad in November 2012. The Istanbul Summit is expected to adopt a Declaration and a plan of action.



Major areas of cooperation in the D-8 Charter are industry, agriculture and food security, energy, trade, transportation, and Tourism. The 20th anniversary of the organisation will also be celebrated on the occasion. PM Abbasi is expected to interact with the leaders of the D-8 on the sidelines.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed the resolve that collective efforts by the D-8 will enable it to achieve its goals more efficiently.

Speaking at the opening session of D-8 top envoys' meeting in Istanbul, he said the group has achieved significant milestones, including an accord on the simplification of visa procedures for business and a customs agreement.



Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in his opening remarks stressed that cooperation among member states has become an issue of great importance as multiple global challenges arise. He also called for cooperation on energy to improve the potentials of member states.