Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD (TNS) Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have vowed to further strengthen bilateral brotherly relations based on economic, historical and cultural ties. On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was met by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which Shehbaz Sharif expressed his best wishes for UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Prime Minister appreciated the UAE’s role in supporting Pakistan in various fields and expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum of cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, the two leaders emphasized on increasing cooperation in trade, investment, energy and people-to-people contacts and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to elevate Pak-UAE relations to an economic partnership. In addition to bilateral relations, the meeting also discussed the regional situation and global developments. On this occasion, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the cooperation of the Pakistani community in the UAE and reiterated his commitment to further deepen bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday, in the presence of Army General Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, among other important figures. According to the statement, during the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the deep brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE, which are based on shared history, mutual respect and strong cultural and economic ties. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation between the two countries and stressed the need to further enhance cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, energy and people-to-people contacts. He also reiterated his desire that Pakistan wants to transform the existing excellent political relations with the UAE into a beneficial economic partnership. In addition to bilateral relations, the meeting also discussed the regional situation and global affairs. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan appreciated the services of the Pakistani community in the UAE and reiterated his commitment to further deepen bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation. UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister meets his Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad Earlier, three MoUs were signed between the two countries on Monday during the visit of the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to Pakistan. Emirati Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Islamabad on a two-day visit on Sunday, where he met with his Pakistani counterpart and left on Monday. Three MoUs were signed in the fields of culture and trade during the meeting between the two leaders. Two of the three MoUs relate to the formation of a joint committee for cooperation in the field of culture and consular affairs, while one relates to the establishment of a joint business council for the two countries between the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Pakistani Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation. UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is on a visit to Pakistan, had said on Monday that relations between the two countries are progressing at a ‘good pace’. Speaking at the start of talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Foreign Office, he said that ‘not only the leadership of both countries but also the people want to see progress and strengthening in our relations.’
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed two memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the field of culture and the establishment of a joint committee for consular affairs.
A statement issued by the Foreign Office said that the UAE officials arrived in Pakistan on Sunday evening on a two-day official visit.
The Foreign Office said that the visit will further strengthen the relations between the two brotherly countries. Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah Zayed Al Nahyan said that Pakistan and the UAE have long-standing relations and play an important role in deepening bilateral relations in various fields, which will benefit the people of both countries.
In a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, he said that the UAE wants to further promote relations with Pakistan.
He said, “I think the people of Pakistan and the UAE want to see more progress in relations, and I want to emphasize that things have been moving much faster than that in the last one or two years.”
The Emirati leader said, “I hope that this spirit will grow rapidly in many different areas, including trade, investment and aviation.” Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the distinguished guest and said that the two countries have centuries-old brotherly relations, and a shared commitment and love and affection for each other. He said that he wished that this visit would have continued for a long time, however, he knew that Sheikh Abdullah Zayed Al Nahyan also had other global commitments.Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and energy, among other sectors. Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a historic relationship, the UAE has made remarkable progress, and the two countries have established historic relations. The UAE has emerged as a global hub in the fields of trade, investment and tourism. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the foundation for lasting relations between the two countries, and the UAE-Pakistan relations are based on religion, trust and mutual respect. There is a reliable strategic partnership between the two countries. Bilateral relations have been further strengthened by the 1.8 million Pakistanis living in the UAE, and Pakistan’s economic recovery is accelerating. Pakistan has a conducive environment for investment. According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE is Pakistan’s third largest trading partner after China and the United States and has been a source of $10 billion in investment in the last 20 years. Both countries have intensified efforts to promote economic relations in recent years. In January 2024, Pakistan and the UAE signed agreements worth over $3 billion. It should be noted that more than one million Pakistani expatriates reside in the UAE, which is also a major source of remittances for the country. Muhammad Ibrahim Dar, Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Business Forum France, has said that the Overseas Convention held in Islamabad is a welcome beginning, which is an important step towards providing investment and protection to overseas Pakistanis in their country. He demanded that special courts be established in all four provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to take immediate notice of incidents of land grabbing by overseas Pakistanis and to ensure their recovery, while the establishment of a ‘one-window operation’ for investors comprising all relevant institutions should also be implemented immediately. He expressed these views while addressing a luncheon hosted by Ghulam Mustafa Malik, Focal Person of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Secretary Information and Broadcasting of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q). The luncheon was attended by Pak Federation Spain Secretary General Ayaz Abbasi, prominent UAE businessman Sohail Mumtaz and a large number of senior journalists from Islamabad. Welcoming the participants of the event, Focal Person of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Secretary Information Pakistan Muslim League-Q Ghulam Mustafa Malik said that the three-day convention was a success due to the full participation of overseas Pakistanis. He said that overseas Pakistanis are the backbone of our economy and providing them with favorable investment opportunities is the top priority of the government. Muhammad Ibrahim Dar, Patron-in-Chief of Pak Business Forum France said that despite all the obstacles, overseas Pakistanis prefer to invest in Pakistan, but some issues can affect their tendency, which the government and institutions should pay immediate attention to. Addressing the event, Pak Federation Spain Secretary General Ayaz Abbasi said that the government’s efforts are commendable in providing investment opportunities to overseas Pakistanis in the country. He hoped that next year’s Overseas Convention will be even better and more effective. They said that we are proud to be Pakistanis and we wish to play our role in the development of the country by investing in Pakistan. Prominent UAE businessman Sohail Khawar Mumtaz said that this convention was a strong message from the government that Pakistan is an excellent country for investment. During the ceremony, Zafar Mehmood Qazi and Javed Shahzad (late) welcomed the distinguished guest Muhammad Ibrahim Dar and Khurram Shahzad presented him with a bouquet. At the end of the ceremony, the Focal Person of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Secretary of Information and Broadcasting of the PML-Q, Ghulam Mustafa Malik, cut the birthday cake, the participants congratulated him and expressed their best wishes.
