Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has extended his congratulations to Ambassador Sohail Mahmood on his recent appointment as Secretary General of the Developing Eight organization, D-8. The President expressed that having a seasoned Pakistani diplomat leading the organization is a moment of pride for the nation.

According to Radio Pakistan, during a meeting in Islamabad, the Ambassador briefed President Zardari on his new role and shared his vision for advancing cooperation among D-8 member states. He emphasized the organization’s potential to foster economic growth and collective development across its membership.

President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to the D-8 as a founding member and highlighted the importance of effectively implementing the D-8 Decennial Roadmap 2020-30. He stressed the need to translate agreed frameworks into tangible outcomes, focusing on priority areas such as trade, agriculture, energy, industry, transportation, and tourism.

The President emphasized the urgency of fully operationalizing the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement and welcomed the signing of the Protocol on the D-8 PTA Dispute Settlement Mechanism. He viewed this as a significant step towards overcoming trade barriers and enhancing economic collaboration among the member states.

Additionally, President Zardari underscored the importance of strengthening people-to-people contacts within the D-8 to deepen cultural and historical ties. He pointed out that institutional reforms are crucial for the long-term effectiveness of the organization.

President Zardari expressed optimism that Ambassador Sohail Mahmood will play a constructive role in aligning the D-8 with contemporary global standards, ensuring fair representation of member states while safeguarding Pakistan’s national interests.