Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday (today), virtually addressed 10th D-8 Summit and proposed a 5-point COVID-19 relief plan focusing on economic and financial challenges.
Addressing 10th D-8 Summit hosted by Bangaldesh, PM Imran Khan proposed a 5-point COVID-19 relief plan including mobilizing financial resources to recover robustly for the economic and health crises incurred by the pandemic.
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The premier urged D-8 leaders to adopt his 5-point plan and join him in advocacy for COVID-19 related relief measures to deal with the unique economic and financial challenges faced by developing countries as a result of the pandemic.
PM Imran also suggested to increase inter-D-8 trade form currently around US$ 100 billion to US$ 500 billion by 2030 which can be achieved via reducing complications in border procedures, enhancing institutional linkages and operationalizing new initiatives.
Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI is participating in 10th #D8 virtual Summit.
The PM will also make a statement. pic.twitter.com/AdCirRBEZz
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 8, 2021
Live Stream: Prime Minister of Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI's Speech at 10th D-8 Summit virtually hosted in Dhaka Bangladesh (08.04.21)#PrimeMinisterImranKhan #Pakistan 🇵🇰 #D8Summit https://t.co/6O6kgRfc8g
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 8, 2021
D-8 should develop a Youth Engagement Strategy focused on promoting cultural, educational, scientific and business exchange, he added.
The premier also welcomed D-8 Payment Card initiative as it would enable transactions in local currencies.
Imran Khan also stressed upon the need to promote knowledge-based economy, increase expenditure for research and development and focus on rapid digitization as technological development is a gateway to economic prosperity, particularly in the post pandemic period when reliance of technology would be greater than ever in the human history.
Expressing his views on the lack of integration between educational institutions, the prime minister said that scholarships, skill development, trainings, fellowships, joint research and exchange program for the youth particularly in the field of science, technology, and innovation must be comprehensively linked.
Collective wisdom and commitment will bring a new vigor to D-8 as partnerships between governments, international financial institutions, businesses and civil society are essential to leverage technology, innovation and skills to enable every young person to have all opportunities to realize their full potential, said PM Imran Khan.
