Islamabad: The construction of a strategic highway between Wana and Angoor Ada in South Waziristan, Pakistan, will be funded by the UAE through the Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation.
The UAE Project to Assist Pakistan (UAE-PAP) announced the $38 million (Dh139 million) Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Wana-Angoor Ada Highway will be completed by the beginning of next year.
Abdullah Al Ghafli, director of the UAE-PAP, made the announcement in a speech at a ceremony in Islamabad to mark the signing of an agreement with the Pakistani authorities concerned.
The funding of the 50km road was instructed by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Major General Zahir Shah, of the Pakistani Armed Forces, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Eisa Basha Al Nuaimi, senior officials and representatives of Pakistani and international humanitarian organisations were also present.
Deep-rooted relations
Ambassador Al Nuaimi said the new project reflects the deep-rooted and long standing relations between the UAE and Pakistan.
He reiterated the commitment of the UAE's leadership, namely, President Shaikh Khalifa, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to assisting reconstruction and development efforts in Pakistan.
In doing so, the UAE's leadership is following in the footsteps of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who laid the foundations for the strong bilateral relations between the two countries, according to the UAE diplomat.
In addition to infrastructure development, the UAE is currently constructing 51 projects comprising 41 schools and ten institutes and colleges.
