ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reiterated their resolve to transform the existing special relations shared by the two countries into a Strategic Long-Term Economic Partnership by adopting a direct, transparent and time-bound approach, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s office said in a statement on Monday.
It followed Khan’s day-long visit to the UAE on Sunday night on the invitation of Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
During the meeting, the two leaders expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of relations and agreed to take immediate measures to further elevate their historic partnership, the statement said. “The two sides agreed to chalk out a comprehensive roadmap to accelerate cooperation and partnership in areas encompassing trade, investment, economic development, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture, with a view to accrue early dividends from the economic partnership,” it added.
The next Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission — to be co-chaired by the respective Foreign Ministers in Abu Dhabi – is scheduled to be held in February next year. “The two sides also agreed to further strengthen their cooperation to deal with transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking,” the statement said.
The two leaders also expressed satisfaction at the on-going defense and security cooperation and resolved to explore further collaboration in the areas of training, joint exercises and defense production.
Later in Dubai, PM Khan was received by Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. PM Khan briefed the UAE leadership about his government’s people-centric reform agenda including the steps being taken to eliminate corruption and promote transparency and accountability at all levels of his administration.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to actively participate in the Expo 2020 and extend its full support to the UAE in making the mega event a great success. “Pakistan offered UAE the services of its IT professionals and skilled labor, in preparing for Expo 2020,” the statement read.
This was PM Khan’s second visit to the UAE in the past two months where he was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan, and the Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood. PM Khan also visited the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi and the Martyrs’ Memorial in Dubai where he paid homage to Emirati heroes who had sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation.
