KARACHI: Pakistan has signed the Developing-8 (D-8) dispute settlement mechanism, an official statement said on Wednesday, as its commerce minister urged member states to operationalize the bloc’s preferential trade agreement (PTA) and expand cooperation in digital trade to boost regional economic integration.

The eight-nation grouping, founded in 1997 by Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Türkiye, Egypt and Nigeria, aims to promote economic cooperation among large Muslim-majority developing states, though progress has often been uneven.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan made the remarks at the Fourth D-8 Trade Ministers Council in Cairo, where delegations met to review trade commitments and discuss the PTA’s implementation.

“The signing of the protocol — together with the operationalization of the PTA among D-8 member states — is expected to further enhance trade, facilitate smoother economic engagement and support the long-term vision of a more integrated D-8 economic bloc,” the commerce ministry said.

“Jam Kamal Khan stressed the urgency for regional platforms like the D-8 to respond collectively to rising protectionism, supply chain disruptions, climate-related shocks and commodity market volatility,” it added. “Strengthened cooperation, he noted, is essential to maintain resilience, sustain trade flows and foster market confidence.”

Khan also welcomed Azerbaijan’s accession as the grouping’s ninth member, calling its inclusion a boost to the bloc’s economic potential.

He emphasized the need to make the PTA fully functional, saying Pakistan was committed to harmonizing procedures, resolving operational hurdles and streamlining documentation to expand intra-D-8 trade.

The minister called for stronger institutional linkages in customs cooperation, standardization, mutual recognition and logistics connectivity to unlock regional trade.

He added that efficient transport corridors, predictable transit systems and deeper digital integration were critical for competitiveness.

Khan also urged member states to strengthen private-sector collaboration through joint ventures, technology partnerships and sector-specific cooperation.

He identified food security, textiles, agriculture, energy and technological innovation as priority areas for joint work aligned with sustainable development goals.

“Together,” he said according to the statement, “with the right policies and a strong spirit of partnership, we can transform the D-8 region into a dynamic center of trade, development, and opportunity for all our peoples.”