UAE envoy discusses bilateral matters with Hafeez Shaikh

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador for Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi said that Pakistan and UAE needed to work together to further upgrade their ties aiming at developing strategic partnership.

He was talking with Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Tuesday. The ambassador who maintains active contacts with the leadership here for enhancing bilateral ties, had extensive meeting with the Shaikh. He reminded the Adviser he was optimistic that current high level exchanges between the two countries would open the door of investment in Pakistan.

The sources told The News that Pakistan and UAE have agreed to promote bilateral ties and emphasized the need to further promote economic and trade relations between the two countries in the wake of the meeting. “There were many companies in UAE which were keen to invest in Gwadar and they recently visited Pakistan for the purpose,” Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi said in the course of meeting.

The Ambassador reiterated his country’s commitment to stand by Pakistan for its time of economic crisis. The Adviser informed him that Pakistan highly valued its ties with UAE which had always extended support to Pakistan in difficult times. He said both countries needed to realise the full potential of their ties by encouraging the private sector to come and invest in Pakistan.

He also thanked the UAE government for providing financial support to Pakistan under the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development. He briefed the Ambassador about the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan, adding the Prime Minister sincerely wanted to do something for the development of the country and, in this regard, he has developed good partnership with international community.