Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday stressed the importance of investing in youth and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as key drivers of social and economic development, while addressing the 11th Developing Eight (D-8) Summit in Cairo.
Shehbaz stressed that with more than 60% of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, the country has huge potential for innovation and growth. “Investing in youth and SMEs is critical to our progress. They are the foundation for building inclusive and strong economies that are prepared to meet today’s global challenges.
He highlighted initiatives such as the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, which distributed more than 600,000 laptops, and the Agricultural Loan and Youth Business Project, which enabled Pakistani youth to start and scale businesses. Noting Pakistan’s status as home to one of the world’s largest freelance communities, he emphasized IT training programs to connect youth with global digital opportunities.
Shehbaz also stressed the importance of regional connectivity, highlighting projects such as the Pakistan-Iran-Turkey Corridor as vital for trade and supply chains among G8 members. Regarding Gaza, the Prime Minister called for an immediate ceasefire, stressing its necessity for global peace and prosperity.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Bangladesh during a meeting with Senior Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
During bilateral talks with Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in all sectors, including trade, cultural exchanges and people-to-people communications. The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere that reflects the goodwill and fraternal ties between the two countries.
Shehbaz expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s recent measures, including the abolition of 100% physical inspection requirements for Pakistani shipments and the abolition of a special security desk at Dhaka Airport for Pakistani travellers. He also thanked Bangladesh for facilitating visa issuance processes, noting that these steps are pivotal to promoting trade and travel.
The two leaders stressed exploring new areas of economic cooperation, especially in the field of chemicals, cement clinker, surgical goods, leather goods and the information technology sector. They expressed satisfaction over recent high-level exchanges, including the visit of the Bangladesh cricket team to Pakistan and the concert by a Pakistani artist in Dhaka.
Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to align efforts with Bangladesh to achieve mutually beneficial development goals and enhance cooperation in multilateral platforms, including the G8.
The summit, which was titled “Investing in Youth and Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy,” served as a platform for G8 member states to exchange sustainable growth strategies. Shahbaz expressed his thanks to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his hospitality and devoting a session to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Lebanon, describing it as a necessary step to promote peace in the region.