ISLAMABAD: The UAE envoy to Pakistan was the first to cast his vote on Sunday at the UAE embassy, as balloting began for the country’s citizens residing or working abroad to elect a political candidate to represent them in the Federal National Council (FNC), a parliamentary body for the seven emirates that make up the UAE.
According to UAE officials, more than 200 of the country’s citizens live in Pakistan including over 60 residing in the capital, Islamabad.
“This is the fourth election for the Federal (National) Council in UAE, and we are really proud of this democracy process in UAE,” Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan said while speaking to Arab News during the balloting session at the embassy in Islamabad.
The UAE has more than 118 diplomatic missions around the world which have set up polling booths for citizens to cast their votes, Al-Zaabi said.
“The (polling for the FNC) election in Pakistan will be held in Islamabad and at the consulate in Karachi on September 22 and 23. The big election in UAE will be held between October 2 to 4, followed by results... announced on October 5,” the UAE Ambassador said.
FNC, as per the provision of the UAE Constitution, was established in 1971 and comprises of 40 members representing the Arab peninsula’s seven Emirates; with Abu Dhabi and Dubai having the most number of seats followed by Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and less populated Fujairah, Ajman, and Umm al Quwain with the least.
In the past, all members were appointed by the emirates’ respective rulers, but in 2006 the method was revised to introduce a partial form of democracy that allows the people of UAE to elect 20 FNC members through an electoral process.
“We started in 2006 and now we are in 2019 and this year it is totally different because half of this council will be women. UAE and its leadership support women empowerment and encourages females to be part of the country’s legislative decisions,” Al-Zaabi said.
The Ambassador, widely known for his philanthropic activities in Pakistan and his continued efforts to strengthen fraternal ties between the two countries said: “We have reached our goals to support democracy and encourage the people in UAE to be part of this democratic process.”
UAE citizens in Pakistan cast votes as balloting begins for Federal National Council
UAE citizens in Pakistan cast votes as balloting begins for Federal National Council
- More than 200 UAE citizens in Pakistan are expected to cast their vote
- Half of the council this year is expected to be women: UAE envoy
Pakistan says EU notes progress on rights commitments during GSP+ compliance discussions
- The review formed part of a wide-ranging EU-Pakistan Joint Commission meeting held in Brussels
- The two sides also covered irregular migration, climate cooperation and safe Afghan refugee return
ISLAMABAD: The European Union reviewed Pakistan’s compliance with its preferential GSP+ trade scheme this week and welcomed progress on key human rights commitments, according to a statement on Saturday, as Islamabad seeks to protect access to European markets vital for its export-led growth strategy.
The EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) grants duty-free access to most European markets for eligible developing countries in return for their commitment to implement 27 international conventions covering human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and good governance. Pakistan, which has benefited from the scheme since 2014, is one of the biggest beneficiaries, with the EU its second-largest trading partner and a destination for roughly a third of its exports.
Pakistan’s GSP+ status has come under scrutiny in the past after, in April 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for an immediate review, citing concerns over violence against religious minorities, curbs on media freedom and broader human rights issues. The move followed widespread anti-France protests in Pakistan over the publication of anti-Islamic caricatures, which EU legislators said raised questions about Islamabad’s commitment to fundamental freedoms.
“Both sides reviewed Pakistan’s progress on the implementation of the 27 international conventions as required under the GSP+ framework,” the foreign office said in a statement circulated in Islamabad. “The EU welcomed progress made in bringing Pakistan’s application of the death penalty in line with international standards and encouraged further steps in this regard.”
“It also recognised important first steps against torture, as well as the creation of a Commission on Minorities,” it added.
IRREGULAR MIGRATION, CLIMATE COOPERATION
The discussions took place during the 15th meeting of the EU–Pakistan Joint Commission, held in Brussels on Dec. 17, where officials also addressed irregular migration, including cooperation on the return and readmission of migrants without legal status, and legal mobility pathways under the bloc’s broader migration framework.
The foreign office statement came just a day after Greek authorities said they rescued more than 500 migrants from a fishing boat in the Mediterranean, adding that the group included several Pakistani nationals, highlighting continued migration pressures despite tighter controls.
Climate cooperation was another focus, with both sides reviewing ongoing collaboration on climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development, areas of growing importance for Pakistan after repeated climate-related shocks.
The meeting also touched on the situation of Afghan refugees.
The statement said the EU welcomed the ongoing discussions between Pakistan and the UN refugee agency “to identify and compile a list of vulnerable cases, to ensure their adequate protection.”
“The EU appreciated that Pakistan is hosting millions of Afghan nationals for over four decades,” it continued. “They emphasised that any return must be safe, dignified and in line with international standards.”
The two sides agreed to continue engagement under the EU–Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan, a framework guiding cooperation on political dialogue, trade, development, security and people-to-people exchanges, with the next joint commission meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad next year.
