TEHRAN, Feb 18: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Wednesday called on the member states of the D-8 group to take steps to get rid of dependence on aid.

Speaking at the D-8 summit, he said the promotion of trade would help overcome the trend of aid. He reiterated Pakistan's resolve, as part of the international community, to continue to play its role in combating terrorism. He presented a plan for enhancing economic cooperation among the member states of the group.

The prime minister also held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the moot. He attended a lunch hosted by Iranian President Syed Mohammad Khatami, who was the chairman of the fourth D-8 summit. The prime minister is due to leave for home on Thursday.

He was accompanied during the three-day visit by Privatization and Investment Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, MNAs Dewan Jafar Hussain Bukhari and Rai Azizullah Khan, Commerce and Trade Secretary Afsar Kamal and foreign affairs ministry officials. -APP