Pakistan continuing all-out war on terror, PM tells UAE minister

LAHORE: A delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), led by Minister for Culture, Youth and Social Development, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind residence on Tuesday. Sheikh Nahyan is also the chairman of Warid Telecom International and Abu Dhabi Group, Union National Bank and United Bank Limited. The two sides discussed a range of issues including bilateral relations. Sheikh Nahyan expressed his best wishes for the health of Nawaz Sharif after his recent operation in the United Kingdom.

Nawaz said his government was continuing an all-out war against terrorism. It successfully launched Zarb-e-Azb Operation against terrorists in the country, and also an operation was conducted in Karachi, in consultation with all stakeholders. He said the operations helped in restoring peace in the country and the Karachi city.

The prime minister said his government was working tirelessly to bring the country on the right track and attain durable peace, sustainable economic growth and massive infrastructure development. He apprised the delegation of the development projects under way across the country under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which would transform the lives of millions of people across the region. Nawaz said he was personally overseeing the project which included motorways and railway tracks worth more than Rs900 billion. He said the LNG deal would help eradicate shortage of gas in the country by the next year.

PM Nawaz Sharif said his government had ensured uninterrupted power supply to industrial sector. He vowed to overcome energy shortages in the country by 2018.Sheikh Nahyan appreciated the efforts of Pakistan, saying the government has made considerable progress in the last three years under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. He said Pakistan is very attractive and feasible country for foreign investment. The visiting minister was earlier given a rousing welcome by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif upon arrival at the Lahore airport. Shahbaz said there were strong brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE and the cooperation in different social sectors was encouraging and appreciable.