Islamabad: Pakistan’s new prime minister has expressed his government’s desire to further advance economic ties with the United Arab Emirates.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to further strengthen ties with the UAE during a meeting with UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi in Islamabad on Tuesday. “The Prime Minister underscored his Government’s commitment to further advance the economic dimension of the relationship, focusing on enhanced trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, food security, and employment generation,” the PM Office said in a statement issued after the meeting.
UAE Ambassador extended warm felicitations to the new prime minister and reaffirmed his country’s desire to further consolidate its bilateral relations with Pakistan. The two sides discussed “bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation and bilateral partnership between the two countries” according to the UAE embassy.
'Special relations'
Pakistani prime minister praised the UAE ambassador’s efforts to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries. He recalled that “Pakistan and the UAE had always enjoyed special relations which are firmly rooted in shared history, common faith and geographical proximity.” “He added that the friendly relations were further amplified by close people-to-people contacts.
The UAE is home to more than 1.6 million Pakistanis – the second largest Pakistani expatriates’ community abroad. The UAE is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and a major source of foreign remittances.
Last week, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also congratulated the new Pakistani prime minister. Sharif was elected prime minister on April 11 following a week-long political crisis that culminated in the ouster of former premier Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote.
