Revenue minister reiterates Pakistan's resolve to achieve objectives of D-8

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Revenue Muhammad Hammad Azhar has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment and continued support for achieving the objectives of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation.

He was addressing to 8th Session of the D-8 Council of Foreign Ministers being held at Antalya, Turkey today.

The minister of state highlighted the role being played by Pakistan in the D-8 for the realisation of its vision, including as its chair from 2012-2017.

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To achieve tangible progress, he called for speedy implementation of agreements signed under the D-8, particularly in context of preferential trade, developing small and medium enterprises, simplification of customs and visa matters, and cooperation in increasing communication linkages. He also underscored the need for increasing the intra-D-8 trade.

Hammad Azhar also highlighted the projects underway in Pakistan as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He underscored that under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the new government in Pakistan was fully committed to building a changed and reformed ‘New Pakistan’, by improving framework of transparency and accountability. He said the government would enhance ease of doing business, and upgrade governance structures.

The minister also interacted with the foreign minister of Turkey on the sidelines of the conference and separately held a meeting with the deputy foreign minister of Malaysia.

Views were exchanged on increasing trade and commercial cooperation, both in the bilateral context as well as under the umbrella of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation.