UAE Crown Prince announces $200m support for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday underlined the importance of Pakistan-United Arab Emirates special relationship and laid emphasis on deeper economic ties between the two sides during his meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who met with him.

The crown prince was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet members and senior officials. In a special gesture, the crown prince was received by Prime Minister Imran Khan at the Nur Khan Airbase. Sheikh Mohamed had earlier visited Pakistan in January 2019. The prime minister apprised Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed of India’s inhuman lockdown in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), continuing for over 150 days. He also highlighted India’s discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens and their negative consequences.

Imran underscored the need for the world community to take urgent steps to address India’s state oppression in IOK, immediate removal of the continuing lockdown and other restrictions, avoidance of escalation of tensions on the LoC and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

The OIC’s role in the advancement of the Islamic Ummah’s cause was also discussed. The prime minister also appraised the crown prince of Pakistan’s efforts and positive contribution to the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. He underlined that a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan and the region.

The crown prince underlined the strategic importance of the UAE-Pakistan relations and extended cordial greetings for the brotherly people of Pakistan and good wishes for their accelerated development in the year 2020 and beyond. He also underlined the UAE’s support for peace and stability in South Asia and peaceful resolution of issues. Nahyan also appreciated Pakistan’s important role in the OIC. The visit of the crown prince was the first by a foreign dignitary to Pakistan in 2020, and reflective of the special relations between Pakistan and the UAE, which continue to grow deeper. The two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to take these relations to a new level.

Imran Khan and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held wide-ranging talks focusing on bilateral, regional and international issues. The discussions continued over the luncheon, hosted by the prime minister in honour of the crown prince and his accompanying entourage. The prime minister expressed satisfaction at the frequent exchange of high-level visits between Pakistan and the UAE and the steady development of cordial ties between the two fraternal countries. Underlining the strategic importance of the Pakistan-UAE special relationship, the prime minister stressed the imperative of deeper economic engagement.

Imran highlighted the economic turnaround in Pakistan and the growing opportunities for foreign investment as well as fruitful trade and commercial engagement with key partner countries. Welcoming the UAE’s interest in investing in myriad sectors in Pakistan, the prime minister assured maximum facilitation for the UAE investments. Among others, the possibilities in the energy and tourism sectors were highlighted. Closer collaboration in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector was also underlined. The prime minister highlighted the positive contributions of more than 1.6 million expatriate Pakistani community, which consider the UAE as their second home. Imran Khan also thanked the UAE leadership and its people for their commitment to Pakistan's socio-economic development, focused in particular on health, education and youth.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also announced $200 million support to Pakistan after holding meeting with Imran Khan. In a tweet, Adviser to PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh stated that he would like to thank HRH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for announcing $200 million support to Pakistan after meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said the money will be spent on small business promotion and jobs. “This support is testimony to the expanding economic relations and friendship between our countries,” he stated. The crown prince departed after completing the daylong visit of Pakistan.