ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates-Pakistan Assistance Program (UAE-PAP) is working on more than 100 largescale projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, said the top diplomat of the Gulf state in Islamabad while talking to Arab News, adding that the organization was primarily focusing on education and health care sectors during the third phase of its program.
“Last year in May, we signed a $200 million cooperation agreement to execute Phase III of the UAE-PAP. This was for more than 100 bigger projects in Balochistan and KP focusing on education and health care,” UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi said.
The UAE-PAP was launched in January 2011 with the objective of providing help and humanitarian assistance to the people of Pakistan and support their development initiatives for a better future.
The program’s third phase complements the previous two phases in which 165 development and humanitarian projects were completed at the cost of $365 million.
Al-Zaabi said one of the main projects of UAE-PAP was to eradicate polio in Pakistan, though there were also several other programs to improve the country’s water and agriculture sectors.
He added that UAE’s charity institutes, such as Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan foundations, were also managing several projects in Pakistan.
“In Kashmir, the Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Foundation has built many schools and hospitals in small villages of Muzaffarabad. They built hospitals, medical clinics, mobile clinics and schools in those areas where even vehicles cannot go,” he continued.
Al-Zaabi pointed out that Pakistan and the UAE had always maintained a strong diplomatic relationship. “I always call it classical relations between the UAE and Pakistan because the leaders of the two countries have the same vision of looking to the future.”
The ambassador said his mandate required him to explore new areas where both countries could work together, identify investment opportunities for entrepreneurs in his country, and facilitate Pakistani business people who wanted to benefit from the UAE market.
The envoy added that special emphasis was also placed on improving visa facilities in Karachi and Islamabad to help Pakistani laborers who were looking for work in his country.
Al-Zaabi was awarded the “UAE Medal of Pride” for enhancing bilateral relations between Abu Dhabi and Islamabad by building new partnerships and broadening the scope of economic and trade cooperation in all areas of common interest between both the countries.
“We at the embassy believe in teamwork and this medal is not for me but it’s for my team at the embassy,” he said, adding: “Every other day we have a new initiative and idea to improve relations with Pakistan, enhance bilateral trade and also to facilitate Pakistani community in the UAE. I count myself not only as the UAE ambassador in Islamabad but also as Pakistan’s ambassador in Abu Dhabi.”
UAE investing $200 million in mega projects in Balochistan, KP
UAE investing $200 million in mega projects in Balochistan, KP
- Says he also considers himself as Pakistan’s ambassador in Abu Dhabi
- Previously, the UAE-PAP completed 165 development and humanitarian projects at the cost of $365 million
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
- Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions in the informal sector are made without any taxes, officials say
- The move comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports under which only digital service providers can provide services
KARACHI: Aik, Pakistan’s first Islamic digital bank, has enabled fully digital payments at Islamabad International Airport to offer travelers and passengers secure, Shariah compliant digital transaction facility.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports across the country, under which only digital service providers can provide services to customers.
Aik, a subsidiary of Bank Islami, said it has onboarded merchants across the Islamabad airport and integrated QR code deployments at key touchpoints to allow passengers and visitors to make secure, seamless, and Shariah-compliant digital transactions at all counters, retail outlets, and service points.
It said the implementation complies with the regulations and framework set by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and is a working model for a large-scale adoption of cashless systems in public infrastructure.
“This deployment reflects our commitment to building practical digital infrastructure that improves everyday transactions,” Aik Chief Officer Ashfaque Ahmed said in a statement.
“By enabling a fully cashless environment at a major national gateway, we are supporting efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion at scale. This is not only a project; it is a foundation for Pakistan’s cashless future.”
Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions, particularly in the informal sector, are conducted in cash. Officials say many of these transactions are aimed at avoiding taxes.
In recent years, the SBP has taken steps to ensure a transition toward a more cashless economy so that transactions are more traceable, reducing chances of tax evasion and corruption.
By digitizing Islamabad airport, aik said it continues to invest in secure and accessible financial solutions that “expand digital participation and support national economic modernization.”
