Govt pursuing progressive agenda: envoy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Faisal Niaz Tirmizi has said the government in Pakistan is pursuing a progressive agenda aimed at making tangible progress towards achieving economic progress and sustainable development goals.

He was addressing a reception in Abu Dhabi to commemorate Pakistan’s 85th National Day. Members of diplomatic corps, senior UAE officials, Emirati nationals and Pakistanis attended the event in an impressive number.

Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, was the chief guest. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh was among the guests. Pakistani artists played the national anthems of Pakistan and the UAE on traditional instruments.

Tirmizi recalled the significance of Pakistan’s resolution and highlighted the arduous struggle for tackling the growing needs of a nascent state, and later towards achieving socio-economic development. He invited attention towards a range of opportunities in Pakistan that remained pivotal in promoting socio-economic development in the country.

These included healthy youth bulge; growing women participation in public life; potential of agriculture; rich socio-cultural heritage; tourism potential; and the fastest growing IT Sector. Emphasising the need of dialogue, he called for immediate end of hostilities in Gaza and reaffirmed Pakistan’s position for resolution of the Palestinian issue and Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

He acknowledged the impressive economic growth of the UAE in the last five decades and paid a rich tribute to the visionary leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which has been proudly continued by the incumbent President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He said the growing Pakistan-UAE strong political and economic partnership was demonstrated through regular high-level contacts, well-established institutions and the presence of 1.7 million Pakistani diaspora.

As a mark of tribute to the founding father of the UAE, the embassy also launched a book on the life and works “Sheikh Zayed Maimaar-e-Watan” written by Khan Zaman Suroor. The book is a tribute from the Pakistan community to the people and UAE government. On this occasion, entrepreneurs Adnan Niaz was honoured with Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his outstanding services.