Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the 11th D8 Summit in Cairo, emphasizing youth empowerment, the promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and calling for urgent international action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Lebanon.

In his opening remarks, the prime minister congratulated Egypt for hosting the summit and welcomed Azerbaijan as a new member of the D8 group. He expressed confidence that under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, Azerbaijan would play a pivotal role in advancing the group’s objectives.

Highlighting the summit’s theme, 'Investing in Youth, Promoting the Trend of Small and Medium Enterprises', PM Shehbaz Sharif described it as a blueprint for collective prosperity in the 21st century. He stressed that youth and SMEs are vital for economic growth, with the youth full of energy, creativity, and innovation, while SMEs generate employment and foster local entrepreneurship. 

“More than 60% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30, making youth empowerment a cornerstone of socio-economic development. For D8 member countries, youth empowerment is of utmost importance,” Shehbaz stated. "Promoting the trend of investment and small and medium enterprises among the youth is of utmost importance for our socio-economic development."

He further said the government is committed to providing quality education, job creation, and productive opportunities through its flagship youth program. "We are focusing on training in the IT sector to equip our youth with modern skills on a large scale, better connect them with the digital world and provide more job opportunities," he asserted. 

He shared Pakistan’s efforts in empowering its youth, including:

• Distributing over 600,000 laptops to deserving students since 2013.
• Awarding thousands of scholarships and providing technical training in fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
• Becoming one of the largest freelancer communities globally.
• Launching initiatives like Startup Pakistan and the National Innovation Awards to cultivate a startup ecosystem.

Shehbaz said the government of Pakistan had given billions of rupees in loans through the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme, which aims to enable the youth to stand on their own two feet. To support SMEs, PM Shehbaz announced that Pakistan’s cabinet had approved the implementation of a preferential trade agreement with D8 member countries.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Lebanon

The summit also addressed reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts following the recent Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon. In a special session, PM Shehbaz made a passionate plea for international solidarity with the people of Gaza, urging immediate steps to support refugees and rebuild the devastated region.

“We must listen to the voices of the oppressed in Gaza -- thousands of orphans and widows who have lost their homes, families, and peaceful lives,” he said, condemning Israel’s actions as crimes against humanity.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue, he reiterated the need for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

Collaboration for a better future

Concluding his address, the PM termed the D8 Summit a rare opportunity for member countries to collaborate on youth investment and SME development. He called on all nations to work collectively for peace, prosperity, and shared growth in the region.