Inayat-ur-Rahman, Gulf Today

Pakistan and the UAE enjoy strong fraternal ties, rooted deep in common faith and shared history and values. High-level visits between the two countries have played a pivotal role in providing further impetus to strengthening bilateral cooperation and collaboration on a wide range of issues.

With the UAE is marking its 50th anniversary this year, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visit is also part of celebrations to mark 50 years of UAE-Pakistan friendship and diplomatic relations. The UAE is home to the second-largest Pakistani community abroad.

“The UAE is Pakistan’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and a major source of investments and the trade volume between both countries has reached $7.5 billion.

“The UAE and Pakistan ties are historic. We have a large diaspora here and their contribution toward the UAE’s socio-economic development is recognised,” he said.

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence met Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday.

During the meeting, Sheikh Nahyan welcomed Qureshi and his delegation, and both sides discussed ways to further develop cooperation between the UAE and Pakistan, to serve their mutual interests.

They also exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual concern and discussed the developments to the COVID-19 pandemic and the related precautionary measures implemented by both countries.

They then discussed the UAE’s preparations to host the Expo 2020 Dubai.

Sheikh Nahyan stressed that the Expo will be a new success story for the UAE, as it will encourage international cooperation in protecting the planet and serving humanity.

The UAE, upon the directives of its leadership, is keen to form friendships with all countries and be open to other cultures, he added, stressing that the UAE and Pakistan have solid historic ties that are growing stronger, thanks to the support of their leaderships.

Qureshi affirmed his country’s keenness to enhance its overall cooperation with the UAE to serve their interests while highlighted the UAE’s generous international initiatives that have made it a leading example of helping many communities address the pandemic, most notably the “100 Million Meals” campaign, which embodies the values of solidarity, cooperation, fraternity and peace.

On Sunday, Qureshi toured the Pakistan Pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020 site.

“Great visit to the site of Expo 2020 Dubai, a landmark achievement for the UAE and the entire region,” he tweeted.

“Pakistan is delighted to be a part of Expo 2020 with the Pakistan Pavilion, in collaboration with the government of the UAE.”

“Our participation in the Expo starting from October this year is the reflection of the strong relationship between the two countries. Pakistan will participate with full strength to benefit from this global event to increase its economic targets,” he said.

Qureshi revealed that Pakistan plans to roll out a major event around the UAE’s National Day in December and to coincide with the Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Pakistan pavilion covers 3,251 square metres of the expo site in the Opportunity District.

Taking the theme Pakistan: The Hidden Treasure, it aims to boost tourism, commerce and investment in Pakistan.

The pavilion has been designed with modularity and flexibility in mind, which will allow it to be part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s legacy initiative, through which it can potentially be transformed into a Pakistan Culture and Heritage Centre, contributing towards education and innovation.

Expo 2020 Dubai is scheduled to be held from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, under the theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the future.”

Pakistan Culture and Heritage Centre.

The foreign minister also attended a dinner hosted by the Pakistan Business Council in Dubai where he appreciated the role of the Pakistani business community.

Speaking at the event, Qureshi said that he was working ‘business diplomacy’ as he wanted to draw the attention of the businessmen and investors around the world to the emerging business opportunities in Pakistan. “The Pakistani economy is showing positive signs despite the COVID-19 pandemic,” he claimed.

He said the purpose of his visit is to further strengthen bilateral relations with the UAE in various fields. “I am happy that a large number of Pakistanis living in the UAE are playing important role in the development process of the UAE,” he noted.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister said that the welfare of overseas Pakistanis is the top priority of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.

Qureshi said that Pakistani expatriates are backbone of their country’s economy and a major source of foreign remittances. “We give them top priority when it comes to their welfare and solving their problems,” Qureshi added.

He pointed out that the government will focus on economic stability that leads to economic and job creation and poverty alleviation in the country for the remaining two years in power.

Ahmed Shaikhani, President Pakistan Business Council in Dubai warmly welcomed the Pakistan’s Foreign Minister visit to the UAE, adding that it would further strengthen the bilateral ties between both countries.