Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a bilateral meeting agreed on the need to intensify “strategic partnership and cooperation” between the two countries, a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) said on Friday. The statement said.
This statement was issued at the end of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s two-day official visit to the Gulf country, during which he met the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and discussed concrete measures to strengthen bilateral relations. Talked.
On Thursday, the UAE also extended a $3 billion lifeline to Pakistan to help the country amid dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
During the meeting, the two sides – with the aim of promoting solid and meaningful bilateral cooperation in key areas – agreed to intensify consultations and coordination to strengthen strategic partnership and cooperation, especially information and communication. Agreed to work together in the field of technology. Distribution of digits.
The statement added that the two leaders also discussed regional political and security issues.
“They also discussed a specific initiative to enhance cooperation in the political, defense, economic, trade and cultural sectors, development of joint ventures, and strengthening cooperation in the field of human resources,” it said.
The Prime Minister thanked the President of the United Arab Emirates for his generous assistance during the recent floods in Pakistan, especially through the airlift established for the purpose.
During Prime Minister Shahbaz’s interaction with the leadership of the UAE, the two countries reaffirmed their historic and brotherly ties, which are rooted in common religion, culture, values and pursuit of regional and global peace and security. He also expressed satisfaction over the commonality of views on many regional and global issues.
Building on their decades-old fraternal ties, the two countries have expressed solidarity with each other in their efforts to protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Additionally, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on countering human trafficking, exchange of information and diplomatic academies of the two countries.
Accepting Prime Minister Shehbaz’s invitation to visit Pakistan, President Nahyan later agreed to visit Pakistan.
This was the Prime Minister’s third visit to the UAE after assuming the post of Prime Minister. A high-level delegation including important members of the cabinet is also accompanying him.
Give Pakistan a loan.
A day earlier, the president of the United Arab Emirates agreed to roll over an existing loan of $2 billion and provide an additional loan of $1 billion to Pakistan.
The much-needed relief for cash-strapped Pakistan’s ailing economy was crucial as the ninth review of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) program is pending for the release of the next tranche of $1.1 billion in funds from September.
Pakistan is facing a severe economic crisis, with its central bank’s foreign exchange reserves falling to a critical level below $5 billion, barely enough for three weeks of imports.
