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ISLAMABAD, Jan 03 (APP):Ambassador Sohail Mahmood of Pakistan on Friday formally assumed office as the new Secretary-General of the Developing-8 (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation, marking a new chapter in the bloc’s efforts to deepen economic collaboration among member states.
The assumption of charge was formalised during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the D-8 Secretariat in Istanbul, said a press release received here on Saturday.
In his remarks on the occasion, Ambassador Imam welcomed and congratulated Ambassador Sohail Mahmood on his assumption of duty and extended his best wishes for a successful tenure. He also briefed participants on the key achievements and milestones accomplished during his tenure as Secretary-General from 2022 to 2025, highlighting the Organization’s progress in advancing economic cooperation, strengthening institutional capacity, and implementing strategic initiatives. He also expressed his appreciation to the staff of the Secretariat for their cooperation and support throughout his term of office.
On his part, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood expressed his sincere appreciation to Ambassador Imam for the warm welcome and congratulated him on his contributions to the Organization. He wished Ambassador Imam continued success in his future endeavors.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underscored the significant potential of the D-8 Organization and emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among Member States through effective implementation of priority programs, initiatives, and flagship projects. He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with Member States, partners, and the Secretariat to realize the founding principles and objectives as well as targets, as outlined in the D-8 Charter and the Decennial Roadmap.
The ceremony concluded with the signing of the handover minutes and a family photo, marking the official commencement of Ambassador Sohail Mahmood’s tenure as Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, effective from 1 January 2026.
A seasoned diplomat with over four decades of public service, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood previously served as Pakistan’s 30th Foreign Secretary from 2019 to 2022 and later headed the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), the country’s premier policy think tank, from 2023 to 2025.